Kees Verkerk


Cornelis Arie "Kees" Verkerk is a former speed skater from the Netherlands.

Short biography

Kees Verkerk was World Allround Champion in 1966 and 1967, and European Allround Champion in 1967. He won an Olympic gold medal on the 1,500 m in 1968 and a silver medal on the 5,000 m. Four years earlier, he had won Olympic silver on the 1,500 m. In 1972, he won Olympic silver on the 10,000 m. Nationally, he won four Allround titles in 1966, 1967, 1969 and 1972. As a result of his performances, he received the Oscar Mathisen Award in 1966 and 1967, the first skater to win this award twice, although until 1967, skaters were not eligible to win it more than once.
In 1973, together with Ard Schenk and a dozen other skaters, Verkerk joined in a newly formed professional league, but this lasted only two years. The end of this professional league also marked the end of Verkerk's career as a speed skater. Later, he was coach of the Swedish team. Verkerk met his future Norwegian wife in 1972 and has lived in Norway since his speed skating career ended.

World records

Over the course of his career, Verkerk skated eight world records:
DisciplineResultDateLocationNote
Big combination178.05812 February 1967OsloWorld record until 14 January 1968
1500 m2:03.926 February 1967InzellWorld record until 5 February 1968
5000 m7:26.626 February 1967InzellWorld record until 7 January 1968
Big combination172.05810 March 1968InzellWorld record until 2 March 1969
10000 m15:03.626 January 1969InzellWorld record until 14 February 1971
1500 m2:02.09 February 1969DavosWorld record until 8 March 1970
5000 m7:13.21 March 1969InzellWorld record until 13 March 1971
1500 m2:01.98 March 1970InzellWorld record until 16 January 1971

Source: SpeedSkatingStats.com

Personal records

!Discipline!!Result!!Date!!Location!!Note
Verkerk has an Adelskalender score of 168.033 points. Except for two days in February 1968, he was number one on the Adelskalender from 28 February 1967 until 5 February 1971 – a total of 1444 days. The Adelskalender is an all-time allround speed skating ranking.
Source: SpeedSkatingStats.com

Tournament overview