# Erben Wennemars

Egbert Rolf "Erben" Wennemars (born 1 November 1975) is a Dutch former speed skater. He specialized in the sprint and middle distances of 500, 1000 and 1500 meters, and set six world records during his career.

## Speed skating career

Wennemars was the first skater who skated the 1500 m faster than 1:50.00. His 1:49.89 in the summer of 1997, however, was not regarded as an official world record.
During the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, where Wennemars was qualified for the 500, 1000 and 1500 m, he dislocated his shoulder when Grunde Njøs from Norway fell and collided with Wennemars during the second 500 m race. Wennemars was not able to participate in the other distances after that.
Wennemars achieved his first big success in 2003 during the World Single Distance Championships in Berlin, Germany, by winning the gold medal at the 1000 m and 1500 m. One year later he became world champion in sprint in Nagano. In 2005 he defended his world sprint title successfully in Salt Lake City, United States.
Wennemars qualified for the 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m and the team pursuit events at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. His teammates for the team pursuit were Sven Kramer, Carl Verheijen, Mark Tuitert and Rintje Ritsma.
In 2003, Wennemars was chosen as athlete of the year in the Netherlands, and in 2003, 2004 and 2005 as Dutch skater of the year. After failing to qualify for the 2010 Winter Olympics, he announced his farewell from competitive skating. On 11 January 2010, Wennemars officially retired as a speed-skating professional.

### Records
#### Personal records

Personal records :
| Men's speed skating |||||
| Event | Result | Date | Location | Notes |
| 500 m | 34.68 | 22 January 2005 | Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake City | |
| 1000 m | 1:07.33 | 12 January 2003 | Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake City | |
| 1500 m | 1:42.32 | 9 November 2007 | Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake City | World record until beaten by Denny Morrison on 14 March 2008. Dutch record until beaten by Koen Verweij on 15 November 2013. |
| 3000 m | 3:41.84 | 12 August 2005 | Olympic Oval, Calgary | |
| 5000 m | 6:28.42 | 13 August 2005 | Olympic Oval, Calgary | |
| 10000 m | 13:35.67 | 11 February 2007 | Thialf, Heerenveen | |
| Small comb. | 146.365 | 12–13 August 2005 | Olympic Oval, Calgary | Current world record. |
| Team pursuit | 3:37.80 | 11 March 2007 | Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake City | World record (with Sven Kramer and Carl Verheijen) until beaten by Jan Blokhuijsen, Sven Kramer and Koen Verweij on 16 November 2013. |

#### World records

World records :
| Men's speed skating |||||
| Event | Result | Date | Location | Notes |
| 1500 m | 1:42.32 | 9 November 2007 | Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake City | World record until beaten by Denny Morrison on 14 March 2008. Dutch record until beaten by Koen Verweij on 15 November 2013. |
| Small comb. | 153.583 | 15–16 August 1998 | Olympic Oval, Calgary | World record until beaten by Steven Elm on 27–29 November 1998. |
| Small comb. | 149.188 | 14–15 August 1999 | Olympic Oval, Calgary | World record until beaten by Jochem Uytdehaage on 15–17 March 2001. |
| Small comb. | 146.365 | 12–13 August 2005 | Olympic Oval, Calgary | Current world record. |
| Team pursuit | 3:46.44 | 21 November 2004 | Sportforum Hohenschönhausen, Berlin | World record (with Mark Tuitert and Carl Verheijen) until beaten by Arne Dankers, Steven Elm and Denny Morrison on 12 November 2005. |
| Team pursuit | 3:37.80 | 11 March 2007 | Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake City | World record (with Sven Kramer and Carl Verheijen) until beaten by Jan Blokhuijsen, Sven Kramer and Koen Verweij on 16 November 2013. |

## Tournament overview

| Season | Dutch Championships Single Distances | Dutch Championships Sprint | Dutch Championships Allround | World Championships Allround | World Championships Sprint | World Championships Single Distances | Olympic Games | World Cup GWC | World Championships Junior Allround |
| 1994–95 | THE HAGUE 16th 500m 14th 1000m | | | | | | | | SEINÄJOKI 25th 500m 31st 1500m 14th 1000m DNQ 5000m NC overall(24th) |
| 1995–96 | GRONINGEN DQ 500m 6th 1000m 5th 1500m | ASSEN 14th 500m 7th 1000m 11th 500m 7th 1000m 10th overall | | | | | | | |
| 1996–97 | THE HAGUE 500m 1000m 1500m | GRONINGEN 4th 500m 1000m 4th 500m 4th 1000m overall | | | | | | 22nd 500m 28th 1000m | |
| 1997–98 | HEERENVEEN 500m 1000m 1500m | GRONINGEN 500m 1000m 500m 4th 1000m overall | | | BERLIN 9th 500m 6th 1000m 6th 500m 1000m overall | | NAGANO DNF 500m | 10th 500m 7th 1000m | |
| 1998–99 | GRONINGEN 500m 4th 1000m 7th 1500m 20th 5000m | GRONINGEN 500m 5th 1000m 500m 1000m overall | | | CALGARY 13th 500m 4th 1000m 5th 500m 1000m 5th overall | HEERENVEEN 500m 4th 1000m | | 14th 500m 5th 1000m 18th 1500m | |
| 1999–2000 | DEVENTER 500m 1000m 7th 1500m | UTRECHT 16th 500m 1000m 500m 1000m 4th overall | | | SEOUL 4th 500m 5th 1000m 4th 500m 1000m 5th overall | NAGANO 10th 500m 6th 1000m | | 6th 500m 4th 1000m | |
| 2000–01 | THE HAGUE 500m 1000m 1500m | HEERENVEEN 500m 1000m 500m 1000m overall | | | INZELL 4th 500m 1000m 15th 500m 1000m 5th overall | SALT LAKE CITY 18th 500m 6th 1000m 1500m | | 10th 500m 5th 1000m 4th 1500m | |
| 2001–02 | GRONINGEN 500m 1000m 4th 1500m | GRONINGEN 500m 4th 1000m 500m 1000m overall | | | HAMAR 8th 500m 6th 1000m 6th 500m 1000m 5th overall | | SALT LAKE CITY 10th 500m 5th 1000m | 10th 500m 5th 1000m 1500m | |
| 2002–03 | UTRECHT 500m 1000m 1500m | | | | CALGARY 4th 500m 1000m 5th 500m 1000m overall | BERLIN 500m 1000m 1500m | | 500m 1000m 1500m | |
| 2003–04 | HEERENVEEN 500m 1000m 1500m | UTRECHT 500m 1000m 500m 1000m overall | | | NAGANO 9th 500m 1000m 7th 500m 1000m overall | SEOUL 11th 500m 1000m 1500m | | 11th 500m 1000m 1500m | |
| 2004–05 | ASSEN 500m 1000m 1500m | GRONINGEN 23rd 500m 1000m 4th 500m 1000m 21st overall | | | SALT LAKE CITY 4th 500m 4th 1000m 500m 1000m overall | INZELL 9th 500m 9th 1000m 7th 1500m team pursuit | | 9th 500m 1000m 1500m | |
| 2005–06 | HEERENVEEN 500m 1000m 1500m | ASSEN 6th 500m 6th 1000m 5th 500m 4th 1000m 4th overall | | | | | TURIN 16th 500m 1000m 5th 1500m team pursuit | 27th 500m 8th 1000m 8th 1500m team pursuit | |
| 2006–07 | ASSEN 500m 7th 1000m 4th 1500m | GRONINGEN 5th 500m 1000m 500m 1000m overall | HEERENVEEN 500m 12th 5000m 1500m 8th 10000m overall | HEERENVEEN 500m 10th 5000m 1500m 10th 10000m 5th overall | HAMAR 6th 500m 1000m 13th 500m 4th 1000m 6th overall | SALT LAKE CITY 14th 500m 4th 1000m 1500m team pursuit | | 27th 100m 13th 500m 1000m 1500m team pursuit | |
| 2007–08 | HEERENVEEN 500m 1000m 1500m | HEERENVEEN 15th 500m 1000m 500m 4th 1000m 5th overall | | | | NAGANO team pursuit | | 41st 100m 27th 500m 9th 1000m 4th 1500m team pursuit | |
| 2008–09 | HEERENVEEN 15th 500m 1000m 4th 1500m | GRONINGEN 5th 500m 1000m 6th 500m 1000m overall | HEERENVEEN 500m 14th 5000m 1500m 8th 10000m 5th overall | | MOSCOW DNF 500m DNS 1000m DNS 500m DNS 1000m NC overall | | | 25th 1000m 10th 1500m 7th team pursuit | |
| 2009–10 | HEERENVEEN 11th 500m 9th 1000m 5th 1500m | | | | | | | 26th 1500m team pursuit | |
| 2013–14 | HEERENVEEN 15th 1500m | | | | | | | | |
source:
    DNS = Did not start
    DNF = Did not finish
    DQ = Disqualified
    NC = No classification

## World Cup

| Season | 100 meter* | 100 meter* | 100 meter* |
| 1996–1997 | | | |
| 1997–1998 | | | |
| 1998–1999 | | | |
| 1999–2000 | | | |
| 2000–2001 | | | |
| 2001–2002 | | | |
| 2002–2003 | | | |
| 2003–2004 | | | |
| 2004–2005 | | | |
| 2005–2006 | | | |
| 2006–2007 | 27th | 21st | 15th |
| 2007–2008 | 25th | – | – |
| 2008–2009 | | | |
| 2009–2010 | | | |
| Season | 500 meter | 500 meter | 500 meter | 500 meter | 500 meter | 500 meter | 500 meter | 500 meter | 500 meter | 500 meter | 500 meter | 500 meter | 500 meter | 500 meter |
| 1996–1997 | 36th | 30th | 18th(b) | 17th(b) | 24th(b) | 12th(b) | 17th(b) | 23rd(b) | 1st(b) | 13th | 2nd(b) | 14th | | |
| 1997–1998 | 9th | 4th | 9th | 13th | | – | – | | | | | | | |
| 1998–1999 | 24th | 7th | – | – | 5th | | – | 16th | 13th | | | | | |
| 1999–2000 | 16th | 9th | 14th | 6th | 4th | 4th | 4th | 4th | 9th | | | | | |
| 2000–2001 | 15th | 14th | 15th | 7th | 6th | 4th | 7th | 10th | 19th | – | | | | |
| 2001–2002 | 14th | 6th | 10th | – | – | 13th | 5th | 14th | 19th | | | | | |
| 2002–2003 | 10th | 7th | 4th | 5th | – | | | | 6th | | | | | |
| 2003–2004 | 5th | | 14th | 8th | 8th | 12th | – | – | 12th | 12th | 12th | 10th | | |
| 2004–2005 | 16th | 14th | 7th | 8th | | 8th | 10th | 10th | 15th | 9th | | | | |
| 2005–2006 | 58th | 17th | – | – | 7th(b) | 17th(b) | – | – | 1st(b) | 6th | – | – | | |
| 2006–2007 | 27th | DQ | 7th | 13th* | 11th* | 9th* | 14th | 16th | 14th | 4th | 8th | 16th | – | |
| 2007–2008 | 13th | 18th | 18th | 19th | 3rd(b)* | – | 17th | 18th | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2008–2009 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2009–2010 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Season | 1000 meter | 1000 meter | 1000 meter | 1000 meter | 1000 meter | 1000 meter | 1000 meter | 1000 meter | 1000 meter | 1000 meter |
| 1996–1997 | 26th | 19th | 18th(b) | 9th(b) | 7th(b) | 19th(b) | 14th(b) | 18th(b) | 1st(b) | |
| 1997–1998 | 4th | 6th | 7th | 10th | 4th | – | – | | | |
| 1998–1999 | 5th | 7th | – | – | 4th | 5th | 5th | 4th | 4th | |
| 1999–2000 | 11th | 5th | 4th | | 14th | 7th | 6th | | 9th | |
| 2000–2001 | 10th | 13th | 5th | 9th | | 5th | | | 11th | 14th |
| 2001–2002 | 5th | | 19th | | | 6th | 20th | | | |
| 2002–2003 | | 4th | | | | | 6th | | | |
| 2003–2004 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2004–2005 | | 15th | 4th | | | | | | | |
| 2005–2006 | 5th | | – | – | 5th | – | – | 9th | | – |
| 2006–2007 | | 4th | | | | | | | | 7th |
| 2007–2008 | 5th | 9th | 11th | | DQ | 5th | 7th | – | – | 11th |
| 2008–2009 | 8th | 4th | 5th | 4th | – | – | – | DNF | – | – |
| 2009–2010 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Season | 1500 meter | 1500 meter | 1500 meter | 1500 meter | 1500 meter | 1500 meter | 1500 meter |
| 1996–1997 | | | | | | | |
| 1997–1998 | | | | | | | |
| 1998–1999 | – | 1st(b) | – | 7th | – | | |
| 1999–2000 | | | | | | | |
| 2000–2001 | 5th | | 19th | 5th | 20th | | |
| 2001–2002 | | 5th | – | | | 4th | |
| 2002–2003 | | 4th | – | | | – | |
| 2003–2004 | | | 4th | 4th | | | |
| 2004–2005 | | | 9th | | | | |
| 2005–2006 | 8th | | 7th | 11th | | | |
| 2006–2007 | | | | | | | |
| 2007–2008 | | 4th | | 8th | 6th | 10th | 10th |
| 2008–2009 | | 5th | 4th | – | – | – | |
| 2009–2010 | 18th | 1st(b) | – | – | DQ | | |
| Season | Team pursuit | Team pursuit | Team pursuit | Team pursuit |
| 1996–1997 | | | | |
| 1997–1998 | | | | |
| 1998–1999 | | | | |
| 1999–2000 | | | | |
| 2000–2001 | | | | |
| 2001–2002 | | | | |
| 2002–2003 | | | | |
| 2003–2004 | | | | |
| 2004–2005 | | | | |
| 2005–2006 | | – | – | |
| 2006–2007 | | – | – | |
| 2007–2008 | – | | | – |
| 2008–2009 | DNF | – | – | |
| 2009–2010 | – | – | 4th | |
Source:
    (b) = Division B
    DNF = Did not finish
    DQ = Disqualified
    * = 100m (first 100 meters of the World Cup 500 meter)
    – = Did not participate

## Medals won

| Championship | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Dutch Single Distances | 11 | 11 | 9 |
| Dutch Sprint Single Events | 12 | 5 | 13 |
| Dutch Sprint | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Dutch Allround Single Events | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Dutch Allround Classification | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| World Allround Single Events | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| World Allround Classification | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Olympic Games | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| World Single Distances | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| World Sprint Single Events | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| World Sprint Classification | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| World Cup | 27 | 32 | 20 |
| World Cup Classification | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| Total | 77 | 60 | 61 |
Total number of medals: 198

## Personal life

Wennemars is married to TV-presenter Renate van der Zalm, with whom he has two sons: Joep and Niels.