Arne Dankers

Speed skater Arne Dankers won a silver medal in the men’s team pursuit at his only Olympic appearance at the 2006 Winter Games, but his career in the sport extends back to the age of eight, when he first began to train for speed skating competitions. He began competing internationally at the 1998 World Junoir Championships and joined the national team in 2001, after winning bronze in the 10,000m at that year’s Canadian Allround Championships. He followed this up with silver in the same event, as well as the 5,000m, at the Canadian Single Distance Championships in 2002. At the time of his retirement in early 2009, he held the Canadian records in the 3,000 m, 5,000 m and 10,000 m events, and had claimed eight World Cup podium finishes and seven World Championship medals. He had previously been a member of the world record-holding Canadian team in the team pursuit event. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Calgary and has donated his time as an ambassador for Right to Play in Rwanda.

Personal Bests: 500 – 37.58 (2007); 1000 – 1:11.08 (2005); 1500 – 1:44.01 (2007); 3000 – 3:41.96 (2005); 5000 – 6:14.01 (2005); 10000 – 13:10.58 (2005).