John Kah
Encyclopedia
John Kah is a former Australian short track speed skater
, who represented Australia at the 1992
and 1994 Winter Olympics
in the relay team.
Australia's short track relay team went into the 1992 Olympics as world champions, but they crashed in the semi-finals. The Australians were in third place when Richard Nizielski
lost his footing and knocked over Kah during a changeover; they finished fourth, more than ten seconds off the pace, and failed to reach the final.
In 1994, Australia's short track relay team won Australia's first Winter Olympic medal, a bronze. They scraped into the four-team final after edging out Japan and New Zealand to finish second in their semi-final. They adopted a plan of staying on their feet as first priority, and remaining undisqualified and beating at least one of the other three finalists. During the race, the Canadians fell and lost significant time, meaning that Australia would win their first medal if they raced conservatively and avoided a crash. Late in the race, Nizielski was fighting with his American counterpart for track position for the silver medal, but took the safe option and yielded, mindful of the lost opportunity following the crash in Albertville. Unlike Nizielski, Kah was not given an opportunity for redemption. He was named in the squad but remained on the bench and was not used in any of the races, and was not awarded a medal. his brother Danny Kah
was also an Olympic speed skater for Australia, although he competed in the long track format at the 1988 Winter Olympics
in Calgary.
Short track speed skating
Short track speed skating is a form of competitive ice speed skating. In competitions, multiple skaters skate on an oval ice track with a circumference of 111.12 m...
, who represented Australia at the 1992
1992 Winter Olympics
The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics...
and 1994 Winter Olympics
1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
in the relay team.
Australia's short track relay team went into the 1992 Olympics as world champions, but they crashed in the semi-finals. The Australians were in third place when Richard Nizielski
Richard Nizielski
Richard Nizielski is an Australian short track speed skater who competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics, in the 1994 Winter Olympics, and in the 1998 Winter Olympics.-Early life:...
lost his footing and knocked over Kah during a changeover; they finished fourth, more than ten seconds off the pace, and failed to reach the final.
In 1994, Australia's short track relay team won Australia's first Winter Olympic medal, a bronze. They scraped into the four-team final after edging out Japan and New Zealand to finish second in their semi-final. They adopted a plan of staying on their feet as first priority, and remaining undisqualified and beating at least one of the other three finalists. During the race, the Canadians fell and lost significant time, meaning that Australia would win their first medal if they raced conservatively and avoided a crash. Late in the race, Nizielski was fighting with his American counterpart for track position for the silver medal, but took the safe option and yielded, mindful of the lost opportunity following the crash in Albertville. Unlike Nizielski, Kah was not given an opportunity for redemption. He was named in the squad but remained on the bench and was not used in any of the races, and was not awarded a medal. his brother Danny Kah
Danny Kah
Danny Kah is a former ice speed skater from Australia, who represented his native country in three consecutive Winter Olympics, starting in 1988 in Calgary, Canada....
was also an Olympic speed skater for Australia, although he competed in the long track format at the 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
in Calgary.