Cees Juffermans

Cees Juffermans (Stompwijk, February 10, 1982) is a former Dutch short track speed skater. Currently he is a marathon speed skater. He has a relationship with short track speed skater Liesbeth Mau Asam.

Juffermans is one of the best short track speed skaters from the Netherlands ever. At the 2001 European Championships he won the silver medal. He participated at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City where he was eliminated in the series at the 500 and 1000 metres. At the 1500 metres he would reach the semi finals and would eventually become 8th.

His road to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin was not the easiest. Juffermans was nominated by the Dutch Speed Skating Association on both the 1000 and 1500 metres and only had to show he was in form prior to the Olympics at the Speed Skating World Cup meeting in Den Haag. He was unable to do so and his 1000 metres ticket was given to Niels Kerstholt instead who did meet the qualifications to reach the Olympics. On January 20, 2006 he eventually did qualify for the Olympics as during the 2006 European Championships he finished in 6th position at the 1500 metres, which was good enough to qualify. As the Dutch had another starting entry left which was not taken by any other skater he was also allowed to start at the 500 metres in Turin. At the 500 metres he reached the quarter finals, while at the 1500 metres he was eliminated in the semi finals, although he had the final in reach. With only one lap to go Juffermans was in second position when Belgian Pieter Gysel hit him and both fell on the ice. Gysel was disqualified and as a result Juffermans would be able to ride in the final, however after his fall he did not pass the finish line and was eliminated after all. After the Olympics he would make a surprising switch by giving up on short track speed skating and starting to participate in marathon speed skating instead.

External links

* [http://www.ceesjuffermans.nl Official website]