Jacobus Johannes "Jaap" Eden (October 19, 1873 – February 2, 1925) was a Dutch athlete. As of 2004, he is the only person to have won world championship titles in both speed skating and cycling. His successes made him very popular with the public, and he may be considered the first sports hero in the Netherlands.
Early life
Jaap Eden was born in Groningen to Johannes Eden and Maria Baale. Eden's mother died of complications from his birth. His father, too busy with his job as a gymnastics teacher, could not take care of the baby alone, and sent him to his grandparents, who owned a hotel near Santpoort. As a young boy, Eden enjoyed sports, such as running (which he practised in the dunes near his grandparents's home), gymnastics and, in the winter, skating. His speed and good skating technique were noticed by the best Dutch skater at the time, Klaas Pander , and he invited the 15-year-old Eden to join him in training.
In December 1890, in a so-called kortebaan competition over 160 m, Jaap Eden won his first important victory. Many observers saw a great talent in him, and Eden, 17 at the time, was allowed by the Dutch Federation to compete in the world championships.
These world championships were organised by the Skating Club of Amsterdam, as there was no international governing body for speed skating at the time. Only two foreign skaters entered the event, American Joe Donoghue becoming the first World Champion1. Eden only skated in the two shortest of the four events on the programme, placing 3rd and 4th in the half mile and mile, respectively. Weeks later, Eden also entered the European Championships in Hamburg, but without any notable success.
Due to bad weather, the 1892 World Championships have to be cancelled, while the European Championships in that year were only attended by Austrian skaters. Eden did compete in the Prince of Orange Cup in England, where he won his first international competition.
In the summer of 1892, skating officials from several European countries convened in Scheveningen. The International Skating Union (ISU) was established, and the body's newly drafted constitution announced that there would be annual World Championships, to be held over four distances: 500 m, 1500 m, 5000 m and 10000 m. As had been the case at the previous unofficial World Championships, he who wins three of the four races will be declared the winner. The first ISU-governed world championships were scheduled to take place on the Museumplein in Amsterdam.
Skating successes
Two days before the world championships were held, Eden participated in the Dutch national championships. He won both competitions (over 1500 m and 5000 m). His winning time in the 1500 m, 2.35,0 is the first ISU-recognised world record in that distance. This made Eden, who had trained in Norway earlier that winter, one of favourites for the upcoming World Championships.
In the first race of that tournament, the 1500 m, Eden tied with Oskar Frederiksen (Norway) in the preliminaries, but soundly beat him in a head-to-head final race. He outclassed the field in the 5000 m, winning by a margin of victory of over half a minute, while his main opponent Frederiksen did not finish the race. Eden was challenged again by Frederiksen in the first run of the 500 m on the second day, but in the final Eden again beat the Norwegian. This meant Eden's third victory, which was sufficient for the world title. Frederiksen ended his tournament on a high, skating the first official world record in the 10000 m. Eden, riding alone in the last race, fell after the first lap and abandoned the race.
After his victory, Eden was welcomed by a large crowd in his home town Haarlem. He became known throughout the country, and many products bearing his name were produced, such as cigars, chocolates and an alcoholic beverage. He was popular with the public, always available for a talk or a joke.
The next winter, Eden trained in Hamar, Norway and travelled to Stockholm for the World Championships in early February 1894. Because of bad weather, the championships are held in nearby Saltsjöbaden . The first distance, the 500 m, saw Eden paired with Frederiksen. The Norwegian false-started, but was unaware of this until the finish. He was requested to re-skate immediately, but Frederiksen wanted to recover first. Eden, conviced Frederiksen will be disqualified, then skated alone, finishing in 50,4 seconds. The time is later matched by Frederiksen in his second attempt. Because Jaap Eden does not want to skate a tie-breaker, Frederiksen is appointed the winner after drawing lots.
Eden takes revenge in the best possible way, skating a new World Record in the day's second event, the 10,000 m. With 19.12,4, he is half a minute ahead of the other contenders. In the third distance, he loses to Einar Halvorsen , which means there will be no World Champion. Disappointed, Eden fails to finish the final distance after a fall.
Two weeks later, the European Championships took place in Hamar. Eden failed to compete on the first day, officially because of the strong wind. However, it was later revealed that he was in fact in his hotel during the 500 m. He spent his time together with one of the chambermaids of Hotel Victoria, with whom he had an affair. Eden returned to the ice on the second day, and displayed his ability by winning the 5,000 m in 8.37,6 — a new World Record by almost half a minute. The record would remain unbeaten for nearly 17 years, until it was broken by Nikolay Strunnikov 2.
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Notes
1 These World Championships were later declared official by the ISU, and Donoghue is nowadays considered to be first official speed skating World Champion.
2 Strunnikov's time was skated in an out-of-competition race, and therefore not officially recognised until 1967. In 1914, Oscar Mathisen was the first to break the record according to contemporary rules.
References
Last updated: 07-30-2005 02:26:08
Last updated: 09-12-2005 02:39:13
