Ard Schenk

Ard Schenk
Ard Schenk during World Cup competitions in the Thialf in Heerenveen, Netherlands in March 2006
Personal information
Full nameAdrianus Schenk
NationalityDutch
Born (1944-09-16) 16 September 1944 (age 80)
Anna Paulowna, Netherlands
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight90 kg (198 lb)
Sport
CountryNetherlands
SportSpeed skating
Turned pro1973
Retired1974
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)500 m: 39.8 (1971)
1000 m: 1:20.6 (1968)
1500 m: 2:05.3 (1966)
3000 m: 4:08.3 (1972)
5000 m: 7:09.8 (1972)
10 000 m: 14:55.9 (1971)
Medal record
Men's speed skating
Representing the  Netherlands
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1972 Sapporo 1500 m
Gold medal – first place 1972 Sapporo 5000 m
Gold medal – first place 1972 Sapporo 10000 m
Silver medal – second place 1968 Grenoble 1500 m
World Allround Championships
Gold medal – first place 1970 Oslo Allround
Gold medal – first place 1971 Gothenburg Allround
Gold medal – first place 1972 Oslo Allround
Silver medal – second place 1966 Gothenburg Allround
Silver medal – second place 1967 Oslo Allround
Bronze medal – third place 1965 Oslo Allround
Bronze medal – third place 1968 Gothenburg Allround
World Sprint Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1971 Inzell Sprint
Bronze medal – third place 1972 Eskilstuna Sprint
European Allround Championships
Gold medal – first place 1966 Deventer Allround
Gold medal – first place 1970 Innsbruck Allround
Gold medal – first place 1972 Davos Allround
Silver medal – second place 1971 Heerenveen Allround

Adrianus "Ard" Schenk (born 16 September 1944) is a former speed skater from the Netherlands, who is considered to be one of the best in history. His first Olympic success came in 1968, when he won a silver medal at the 1968 Winter Olympics. Between 1970 and 1972 Winter Olympics, Schenk won three consecutive World Allround Speed Skating Championships. He won three gold medals at the 1972 Winter Olympics, becoming, along with Galina Kulakova of Soviet Union, the most successful athlete there.