Quick Facts
Biography
Stefan Groothuis (born 23 November 1981) is a retired Dutch speed skater. He is the World Sprint Champion for 2012 and the gold medal winner in the 1000 metres at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Career
Groothuis, a specialist in the middle distances (1000 and 1500 metres), had his international breakthrough in 2005. In that year he reached a second spot during the Speed Skating World Cup meeting in Salt Lake City competing in the 1000 metres. This earned him a nomination for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. During the Dutch Single Distance Championships in December 2005, he switched this nomination into a qualification by placing fourth behind Jan Bos, Erben Wennemars, and Beorn Nijenhuis, who all qualified as well.
In January, 2006, Groothuis surprisingly became the Dutch national sprint champion, finishing first in two 500 metres and two 1000 metres races, outsprinting common names like Gerard van Velde, Nijenhuis, and Wennemars. A month later at the 2006 Winter Olympics, Groothuis would finish in eighth position in the 1000 metres. His time of 1:09.57 was 0.68 behind the winner Shani Davis.
At the 2012 World Sprint Speed Skating Championships in Calgary, Groothuis won the gold medal. His point total of 136.810 broke the world record for the sprint combination held by Jeremy Wotherspoon.
Personal records
| Personal records | ||||
| Men's speed skating | ||||
| Event | Result | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 m | 34.55 | 21 January 2012 | Salt Lake City | |
| 1000 m | 1:06.96 | 29 January 2012 | Calgary | |
| 1500 m | 1:43.48 | 4 December 2009 | Calgary | |
| 3000 m | 3.53.72 | 16 March 2001 | Calgary | |
| 5000 m | 6:54.59 | 20 March 2002 | Calgary | |
| 10000 m | 14:41.70 | 21 March 2002 | Calgary | |
Source: SpeedskatingResults.com
Career highlights
- 2001, 6th, Junior World Championships
- 2002, 6th, 1000 metres, Dutch National Single Distance Championships
- 2002, 7th, Dutch National Sprint Championships
- 2003, 4th, 1000 metres and 8th, 500 metres, Dutch National Single Distance Championships
- 2003, 6th, Dutch National Sprint Championships
- 2004, 6th, 500 metres and 9th, 1000 metres, Dutch National Single Distance Championships
- 2004, 8th, Dutch National Sprint Championships
- 2005, 5th, 1500 metres; 6th, 500 metres; and 7th, 1000 metres; Dutch National Single Distance Championships
- 2005, 4th, Dutch National Sprint Championships
- 2006, 4th, 1000 metres and 8th, 1500 metres, Dutch National Single Distance Championships
- 2006, 1st, Dutch National Sprint Championships
- 2006, 8th, 1000 metres, 2006 Winter Olympics
- 2006, 9th, 1000 metres, World Cup
- 2007, 2nd, 1000 metres; 6th, 500 metres; and 8th, 1500 metres; Dutch National Single Distance Championships
- 2014, 1st, 1000 metres, 2014 Winter Olympics
Source: www.sskating.com