# Gerard Kemkers

Gerard Kemkers (born 8 March 1967) is a former speed skater from the Netherlands, who represented his native country at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada. There he won the bronze medal in the 5000 metres.
Kemkers retired from international competition in 1990 and became a coach.
During the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, he coached Ireen Wüst to two medals: 3000 m gold and 1500 m bronze, and Sven Kramer to a silver medal on the 5000 m.
During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver he coached Sven Kramer to the gold medal at the 5000 m and Ireen Wüst to the gold medal on the 1500 m. During Kramer's 10 km race, Kemkers made a mistake and guided Kramer to the wrong lane. Kramer finished first, with a time of 12:54.50 (even though he skated an extra lap in the outer lane) but was disqualified for failing to change lanes. As a result, Lee Seung-hoon won gold with a new Olympic record, 12:58.55. Kramer later said, "At the end of the day, it is my responsibility. I am the skater on the ice, I have to do it".

## Records
### Personal records

Personal records :
| Men's speed skating |||||
| Event | Result | Date | Location | Notes |
| 500 meter | 38.30 | 5 March 1988 | Alma–Ata | |
| 1000 meter | 1:15.85 | 11 March 1990 | Heerenveen | |
| 1500 meter | 1:56.13 | 10 March 1990 | Heerenveen | |
| 3000 meter | 3:59.60 | 19 March 1987 | Heerenveen | |
| 5000 meter | 6:45.92 | 17 February 1988 | Calgary | |
| 10000 meter | 14:03.90 | 6 December 1987 | Calgary | |
| Small combination | 160.454 | 16–17 March 1990 | Inzell | |
Source:

### World records

| Nr. | Event | Result | Date | Location | Note |
| 1. | Small combination | 160.454 | 16–17 March 1990 | Inzell | World record until 17 February 1991 |

## Tournament overview

| Season | Dutch Championships Single Distances | Dutch Championships Allround | European Championships Allround | Olympic Games | World Cup | World Championships Allround | World Championships Allround Juniors |
| 1984–1985 | | | | | | | RØROS 8th 500m 3000m 10th 1500m 5000m 4th overall |
| 1985–1986 | | ASSEN 4th 500m 5000m 4th 1500m 10000m overall | | | 17th 1500m 7th 5000m/10000m | INZELL 10th 500m 10th 5000m 11th 1500m 10000m 4th overall | |
| 1986–1987 | THE HAGUE UTRECHT 15th 500m 1500m 4th 5000m 4th 10000m | DEVENTER 500m 5000m 1500m 10000m overall | TRONDHEIM 7th 500m 11th 5000m 11th 1500m 11th 10000m 9th overall | | 17th 1500m 7th 5000m/10000m | HEERENVEEN 14th 500m 4th 5000m 17th 1500m 4th 10000m 5th overall | |
| 1987–1988 | HEERENVEEN 5000m 10000m | ALKMAAR 500m 5000m 1500m 10000m overall | THE HAGUE 7th 500m 4th 5000m 8th 1500m 5th 10000m overall | CALGARY 5000m 5th 10000m | 29th 1000m 1500m | ALMA–ATA 9th 500m 38th 5000m 16th 1500m DNQ 10000m NC overall | |
| 1988–1989 | HEERENVEEN 11th 500m 1500m 5000m DQ 10000m | THE HAGUE 500m 5000m 5th 1500m 10000m overall | GOTHENBURG 13th 500m 5000m 14th 1500m 10000m overall | | 10th 1000m 5000m/10000m | OSLO 19th 500m 4th 5000m 7th 1500m 10000m overall | |
| 1989–1990 | HEERENVEEN 17th 500m 7th 1500m 4th 5000m 5th 10000m | ASSEN 500m 5000m 7th 1500m 10000m overall | | | 34th 500m 25th 1000m 9th 1500m 5th 5000m/10000m | INNSBRUCK 4th 500m 4th5000m 4th 1500m 6th 10000m 4th overall | |
Source:

## Medals won

| Championship | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Dutch Single Distances | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Dutch Allround | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| European Allround | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Olympic Games | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| World Cup | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| World Allround | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| World Allround Juniors | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Overview of championships won by speed skaters coached by Kemkers

| Tournament | Number | Winners |
| 10000m men | 1 | Uytdehaage 2002 |
| 5000m men | 3 | Uytdehaage 2002 Kramer 2010, 2014 |
| 3000m women | 2 | Wüst 2006, 2014 |
| 1500m women | 1 | Wüst 2010 |
| World Allround men | 8 | Uytdehaage 2002 Kramer 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 Verweij 2014 |
| World Allround women | 7 | Groenewold 2004 van Deutekom 2008 Wüst 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 |
| European Allround men | 8 | Uytdehaage 2002, 2005 Kramer 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 |
| European Allround women | 3 | Wüst 2008, 2013, 2014 |
| Dutch Allround men | 10 | Uytdehaage 2001, 2004 Kramer 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013 Olde Heuvel 2010, 2011 Verweij 2014 |
| Dutch Allround women | 5 | Groenewold 2003, 2004 Wüst 2007, 2008, 2009 |
| Dutch Sprint men | 1 | Wennemars 2007 |

## Other achievements

* Netherlands sport coach of the year (2006 and 2013)