Stefan Groothuis

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Stefan Groothuis (2006)

Stefan Groothuis (Empe, November 23, 1981) is a Dutch speed skater who is currently part of Team Telfort.

Groothuis is a specialist in the middle distances, 1000 and 1500 metres and had his international breakthrough in 2005. In that year he reached a second spot during the World Cup meeting in Salt Lake City over 1000 metres. This earned him a nomination for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. During the Dutch Single Distance Championships in December 2005 he switched this nomination into a qualification by becoming fourth behind Jan Bos, Erben Wennemars and Beorn Nijenhuis who all qualified as well.

In January 2006 Groothuis surprised by becoming the Dutch national sprint champion finishing in first position after two races over 500 metres as well as two over 1000 metres, outsprinting common names like Gerard van Velde, Nijenhuis and Wennemars. A month later at the 2006 Winter Olympics Groothuis would finish in 8th position over 1000 metres. His time of 1:09.57 was 0.68 behind on winner Shani Davis.

[edit] Personal records

500m : 35.88, March 23, 2003 in Calgary
1000m : 1:07.69, November 19, 2005 in Salt Lake City
1500m : 1:43.98, March 4, 2007 in Calgary
3000m : 3:53.72, March 16, 2001 in Calgary
5000m : 6:54.59, March 20, 2002 in Calgary
10000m : 14:41.70, March 21, 2002 in Calgary

[edit] Career highlights

2001, 6th at the Junior World Championships
2002, 6th over 1000 metres at the Dutch National Single Distance Championships
2002, 7th at the Dutch National Sprint Championships
2003, 4th over 1000 metres and 8th over 500 metres at the Dutch National Single Distance Championships
2003, 6th at the Dutch National Sprint Championships
2004, 6th over 500 metres and 9th over 1000 metres at the Dutch National Single Distance Championships
2004, 8th at the Dutch National Sprint Championships
2005, 5th over 1500 metres, 6th over 500 metres and 7th over 1000 metres at the Dutch National Single Distance Championships
2005, 4th at the Dutch National Sprint Championships
2006, 4th over 1000 metres and 8th over 1500 metres at the Dutch National Single Distance Championships
2006, 1st at the Dutch National Sprint Championships
2006, 8th over 1000 metres at the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006, 9th overall at the 1000 metres World Cup
2007, 2nd over 1000 metres, 6th over 500 metres and 8th over 1500 metres at the Dutch National Single Distance Championships