By the time of the Lillehammer Games, in 1994 Dan Jansen had won seven overall World Cup titles and set seven world records. However at the Olympics he had experienced nothing but disappointment. After finishing fourth at 500m in 1984, Jansen was one of the favourites in 1988. But on the morning of the 500m, his sister died of leukemia. Jansen tried to race anyway, but fell.
He fell again in the 1,000m. In 1992 he was again a favorite, but could do no better than fourth in the 500 and 26th in the 1,000. In Lillehammer, Jansen was the overwhelming favourite at 500m, but he slipped and finished eighth.
Despite his great non-Olympic success, Jansen had never won an Olympic medal despite competing in seven Olympic races over a ten-year period. His last chance was the 1,000m, a distance at which six of his opponents had better times. Jansen was on world record pace when he slipped during the penultimate turn. Fortunately, he steadied himself and powered on to set a new world record (1:12.43) and win a gold Olympic medal at last.
2017 marks the 23rd anniversary of Dan Jansen's remarkable Gold Medal performance at the Winter Olympics in Lillihamer, Norway, in 1994. That year also became the starting point of the Dan Jansen Foundation. The Mission of the Dan Jansen Foundation is to solicit financial support and distribute funds to charities with an emphasis on aiding individuals and families affected by cancer.
0 comentarios:
Publicar un comentario