Siem Heiden

Heiden was one of the two members of the first Dutch Olympic speed skating team in 1928. While his performances were decent, his most remarkable moment at these Games came off the track. After a drink with Dutch prince consort Hendrik (who would later that year open Amsterdam Olympics), Heiden and colleague Kos found the prince drunk and frozen in pile of snow, and they had to rescue him. They were rewarded with a large amount of cigarettes. Heiden never quite manage to break into the absolute top of his sport, although he achieved a 5th position in the 1930 World Championships. His other major feat was when he broke the world record on the 5000 m in 1933. Seven years later, Heiden was defending the city of Dordrecht against the German invasion. He was ordered to shoot a wounded German paratrooper. Heiden refused when he recognized a fellow Olympian, 1936 gymnastics champion Alfred Schwarzmann. He introduced himself as a speed skater and brought the German to safety.

Personal Bests: 500 – 46.4 (1933); 1500 – 2:23.2 (1933); 5000 – 8:19.2 (1933); 10000 – 17:49.1 (1933).