Jochem Simon Uytdehaage
Jochem Simon Uytdehaage (born July 9, 1976 in Utrecht) is a former Dutch long track speed skater and two-time Olympic champion. He retired in 2007 at the age of 30, following two consecutive seasons of poor results. [1]
He was born on 9 July 1976 in Oog in Al, Utrecht, Netherlands.
In November 2001, he stepped on the podium for the first time. He didn't know that 2 and a half months later he would be the most successful skater of the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Games.
He was the 2002 European all-round champion. During the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, he won the gold medal in the 5,000 and 10,000 meter events and the silver in the 1,500 meter event. His winning time on the 10,000 meter was 12:58.92, the first that a skater had broken the 13 minute barrier on this distance. His time on the 5,000 meter of 6:14.66 was also a world record. His 10,`000m record stood for an impressive three years, when it was broken by both Carl Verheijen and Chad Hedrick on the same day (with Verheijen's time being slightly faster than Hedrick's). [2]
Uytdehaage has led the long track speed skating Adelskalender from 2001 until November 13, 2005, when Chad Hedrick (USA) overtook him.
In December 2005, at the Dutch Olympic Trials in Heerenveen, Uytdehaage failed to qualify for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.