
Jaap Eden - Haarlem -The Netherlands
Posted by:
Axel-F
N 52° 23.744 E 004° 38.342
31U E 611521 N 5806318
Grave of the famous Dutch atlete who won both the world championship speed skating and bicycle racing.
Waymark Code: WM194QQ
Location: Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Date Posted: 11/25/2023
Views: 2
Jacobus Johannes "Jaap" Eden (19 October 1873 – 2 February 1925) was a Dutch athlete. He is the only male athlete to win world championships in both speed skating and bicycle racing.
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, 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 boy, Eden enjoyed running in dunes near his grandparents' home, gymnastics and, in the winter, skating. His speed and 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 training.
Jaap Eden's first significant victory came in a short track race over 160m in December 1890. Thus, Eden, at age 17, was allowed by the Dutch Federation to compete in the world championships.
Legacy
The ice skating rinks Jaap Edenbaan (outdoor) and Jaap Edenhal (indoor) in Amsterdam are named after Eden.
Since 1972, the Dutch Sportsman of the year receives the Jaap Eden Award. The prize for this achievement is a statue created by painter and sculptor Jits Bakker [nl] (born 1937) from Bilthoven and is named after Eden.
Source and much more information:
(
visit link)