Dan Jansen

Dan Jansen, born in 1965, American speed skater, who won the gold medal in the 1000-meter event at the 1994 Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Until this victory, his disappointing Olympic performances had overshadowed his successful career.

Jansen was born in West Allis, Wisconsin, and educated at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. In 1984 he competed at the Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, placing 4th in the 500-meter race and 16th in the 1000-meter race. By 1986 Jansen was one of the best speed skaters in the world, winning the World Cup season title that year in the 500-meter and 1000-meter events.

At the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Jansen was favored to win both the 500-meter and 1000-meter races. A few hours before the 500-meter, however, his sister died of complications from leukemia. Jansen fell during the 500-meter, failing to finish. A few days later, in the 1000-meter, he also fell and did not finish. Over the next few years Jansen remained one of the world's top speed skaters, excelling in World Cup competition. Because of this success, he was expected to win the 500-meter and 1000-meter races at the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France. At the games he only placed 4th in the 500-meter and 26th in the 1000-meter.

Despite these disappointments, Jansen continued to compete, retaining his place on the U.S. Olympic team for the 1994 games. In the 500-meter race at the 1994 Olympics he slipped momentarily, avoiding a fall but losing enough time to wind up in eighth place. In the 1000-meter race, his last Olympic event, Jansen finally won an Olympic gold medal, establishing a world-record time of 1 minute 12.43 seconds. He retired from speed skating after the 1994 Olympics, and for his accomplishments in 1994 he won the James E. Sullivan Memorial Award, given annually by the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States (AAU) to the outstanding amateur athlete in the country.