Speed Skating Canada – Calgary, June 15, 2016 – Canadian Long Track Speed Skater Ted-Jan Bloemen from Calgary, AB, received today the 2016 Oscar Mathisen Award given annually for the most outstanding speed skating performance of the season world-wide.

Bloemen, 29, has been honoured for breaking the 10,000m World Record with a time of 12:36.30 at World Cup #2 in Salt Lake City, November 21, 2015.

This record was previously held by Dutch skater Sven Kramer, who won seven Olympic medals, until Bloemen, who moved from the Netherlands to represent Canada in June 2014 as he has dual citizenships, broke it by about five seconds. The previous mark was 12:41.69 and was clocked in March 2007.

“It is a really big honour as it’s the biggest award you can get in speed skating, said Bloemen. Growing up in Holland, loving speed skating, knowing the history of so many great champions who have won before and now being on that list is such a huge honour and I am very proud.”

“But I didn’t do it alone and I want to thank my teammates, my coach Bart Schouten and Speed Skating Canada for creating an environment in which I could achieve this and I hope to achieve much more. Also, I want to thank my wife Marlinde for the support and happiness she gives me daily.”

The world record is one of many of Ted-Jan Bloemen’s highlights this season following his silver medal in the 10,000m and bronze in the team pursuit at the World Single Distance Championships after he had to spend a period of almost two months away from competition because of a leg injury. Last season, he also broke the 5000m Canadian record (6:12.72).

“That world record race is really special to me, he added. It is the race that put me on the map as someone in speed skating and because of that race, I now have a World Record and an Oscar Mathison Award. Thinking back to that moment is such an amazing feeling and a great memory!”

“On behalf of Speed Skating Canada’s community, I would like to congratulate Ted-Jan Bloemen for winning the 2016 Oscar Mathisen Award following his new 10,000m World Record, commented Speed Skating Canada’s Interim President, Susan Auch. Canada is very proud of Ted-Jan, his coach Bart Schouten and support staff not only for this huge achievement, but for the great performances of him and the entire long track and short track Canadian teams in the past season. Congratulations again!”

Ted-Jan Bloemen is the fifth Canadian ever to win this award first given 57 years ago in 1959. He is succeeded by Gaétan Boucher (1984), Cindy Klassen (2006), Jeremy Wotherspoon (2008) and Christine Nesbitt (2012). Brittany Bowe from U.S.A. won it last year.

Bloemen will be awarded a miniature of the statue of Norwegian speed skating legend Oscar Mathisen (1888-1954), created by the sculptor Arne Durban. The statue itself is placed outside Frogner Stadium in Oslo, the venue of many of Oscar Mathisen’s most memorable victories.

More details are available at Speed Skating Canada’s website at www.speedskating.ca.

About Speed Skating Canada
Speed Skating Canada (SSC) is the governing body for competitive long track and short track speed skating in Canada. Founded in 1887, the association is comprised of 13 provincial and territorial branches representing more than 14,000 individual members, and counting. SSC believes that sport is an apprenticeship for life and prizes respect for others, integrity, excellence of effort, as well as a safe, healthy environment. SSC recognizes and values its outstanding volunteers who give freely of their time and expertise. It also celebrates the 63 Olympic medals won by Canadian athletes since 1932, as well as the coaches, officials and other dedicated individuals who helped them on their journey.

SSC is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values including our premium sponsors Intact Insurance, as well as our funding partners, the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, City of Montreal, Calgary Olympic Oval and WinSport Canada.

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For information:
Patrick Godbout
Communications & Media Relations Manager
Speed Skating Canada
Email: pgodbout@speedskating.ca 
Phone: 514 213-9897
Website: www.speedskating.ca  
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSC.PVC 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC

Kerry Dankers
Long Track Program and Communications Coordinator
Speed Skating Canada
Email: kdankers@speedskating.ca
Phone: 403-589-8960
Website: www.speedskating.ca  
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSC.PVC 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC