Christine Aaftink Explained

Christine Jacoba Aaftink (born 25 August 1966) is a Dutch former speed skater.^[1] She made her international debut in 1988 and was the best Dutch sprinter in the first half of the 1990s.^[2] She specialized in the 500 m and 1000 m distances, in which she competed at the 1988, 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics. Her best achievements were fifth and fourth place in 1992 in 500 m and 1000 m, respectively.^[3] In 1994 she was the Olympic flag bearer for the Netherlands. She won two bronze medals at the World Sprint Speed Skating Championships for Women in 1990 and 1991.^[4]

Nationally, she won at least one sprint title every year between 1987 and 1996. She won all three (500 m, 1000 m and allround sprint) in 1990 and 1992–1994.^[4]

Personal bests:^[3]

• 500 m – 39.88 (1996)
• 1000 m – 1:20.21 (1996)
• 1500 m – 2:11.57 (1994)
• 3000 m – 5:04.33 (1987)

All records:^[2]

• 8th place in the World Sprint Championships (1988)
• 12th place in the Olympic Games in Calgary (1989)
• 5th place in the World Sprint Championships in Netherlands (1990)
• 3rd place in the World Sprints (1990)
• 3rd place in the tournament in Inzell (1991)
• 5th position in the 500 and a 4th in the 1,000 in the Olympics in Albertville (1992)
• 19th and 20th at a World Sprints podium (1993)
• 5th place in the 1,000 m of the inaugural World Single Distance Championships (1996)
• Won seven consecutive 500 metre titles (1990–96)
• Won Five 1,000 metre titles (1990–94)
• Won the Dutch sprinting title seven times (1987-1990 and 1992–1994)
• Won one World Cup race, over 500 metres

Notes and References

1. http://www.metronieuws.nl/sport/2009/01/ik-ben-in-verwachting-van-een-tweeling "I'm expecting twins"
2. Web site: Christine AAFTINK. 2021-12-22. Olympics.com.
3. https://web.archive.org/web/20200418010400/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/aa/christine-aaftink-1.html Christine Aaftink
4. http://www.schaatsstatistieken.nl/index.php?file=schaatser&code=1966082501 Christine Aaftink (NED)