Jaap Eden's 150th Birthday

Google Dooles 19.10.2023 04:15  Date: October 19, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates the 150th birthday of Dutch athlete Jaap Eden. In the early 20th century, his athletic abilities made him an international spectacle and he remains the only person to become a world champion in both cycling and skating. Eden was born on this day in Groningen, Netherlands in 1873. He was raised by his grandparents and spent the majority of his childhood playing sports. A retired Dutch skater discovered fifteen-year-old Eden practicing and believed he showed great promise. After three years of training and winning amateur races, Eden made his debut at the international level. In 1893, he won his first world title at the World Allround Speed Skating Championships. In 1894, Eden broke two skating world records, including the five-kilometer race, which stood for 17 years. Despite competing at the most competitive level of skating in the world, Eden also found time to practice and race in cycling — another sport he loved. He won the cycling world championship that same year and later set a world record in the 1,000-meter race. Eden earned two more skating world titles in Hamar and St. Petersburg. He skated and cycled until 1902, but chose to retire once his performance began to decline. In 1961, Amsterdam opened Jaap Eden Ice Rink, the biggest indoor-outdoor skating rink in the country and home to the hockey team the Amsterdam Tigers. A decade later, the Netherlands named the Dutch Sportsman of the Year award after Eden. He still ranks as one of the most iconic Dutch athletes, and his legacy continues to inspire skaters and cyclists around the world. Happy birthday, Jaap Eden! Location: Tags: