Phillip Tahmindjis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Phillip Tahmindjis (born February 7, 1968 in Kensington, New South Wales) is a former ice speed skater from Australia, who represented his native country in three consecutive Winter Olympics, starting in 1988 in Calgary, Canada.

Tahmindjis, born in a suburb of Sydney, started playing ice hockey for the Canterbury Pacers and was also a short track speed skater before he started with long track speed skating. Starting as a backmarker at the 1985 World Junior Championships, he improved to 12th the following year.

His talents where mainly with the shorter distances, and taking part in four World Sprint tournament from 1987 to 1994, finishing 28th twice and being disqualified the other two times. In Calgary (1988), he took part in his first Olympic Games, skating the 1000 and 1500 m. In 1990, Tahmindjis started to skate allround championships as well (1990 to 1992), finishing around the 30th place in the races. At the 1992 Winter Olympics, Tahmindjis therefore also started on the long distances; 5 and 10 km. He claimed his best Olympic result at the 5000 m by finishing 25th, but was disqualified at the double distance. At the 1994 Winter Olympics, in his final season, he again only participated in the 1000 m and 1500 m.