Leo Visser
Encyclopedia
Leendert Visser (born 13 January 1966 in Haastrecht
, Zuid-Holland) is s a former Dutch
Speed skater
, who in 1989 won the World Allround championship
, the same year in which Visser also became European champion
.
At the 1988 Olympics
in Calgary
he won a silver medal on the 5000 m and a bronze medal on the 10 000 meter. Four years later, at the 1992 Olympics
in Albertville
, Visser won a bronze medal on both the 1,500 and the 5,000 metres, two distances which was coincidently won by the two Norwegians Johann Olav Koss
and Geir Karlstad
.
After his career as a speed skater, Visser became a pilot and he is now captain on the Boeing 737
for Dutch airline KLM.
Haastrecht
Haastrecht is a town on the Hollandse IJssel river in the Dutch province of South Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Vlist, and lies about 5 km east of Gouda.In 2001, the town of Haastrecht had 3302 inhabitants...
, Zuid-Holland) is s a former Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Speed skater
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
, who in 1989 won the World Allround championship
World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Men
The International Skating Union has organised the World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Men since 1893. Unofficial Championships were held in the years 1889-1892.-History:-Distances used:...
, the same year in which Visser also became European champion
European Speed Skating Championships for Men
The International Skating Union has organised the European Speed Skating Championships for Men since 1893. Unofficial Championships were held in the years 1891-1892.-History:-Distances used:...
.
At the 1988 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
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
he won a silver medal on the 5000 m and a bronze medal on the 10 000 meter. Four years later, at the 1992 Olympics
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...
in Albertville
Albertville
Albertville is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The town is best known for hosting the 1992 Winter Olympics.-Geography:...
, Visser won a bronze medal on both the 1,500 and the 5,000 metres, two distances which was coincidently won by the two Norwegians Johann Olav Koss
Johann Olav Koss
Johann Olav Koss is a former speed skater from Norway, considered to be one of the best in history, and current assistant coach of Norway's speed skating team.-Biography:...
and Geir Karlstad
Geir Karlstad
Geir Karlstad is a former speed skater.-Short biography:Although best at the longest distances , Geir Karlstad became Junior World Allround Champion in 1982 and, as a senior, won bronze in both the World and European Allround Championships in 1989...
.
After his career as a speed skater, Visser became a pilot and he is now captain on the Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
for Dutch airline KLM.