View source for Hans van Helden

{{short description|Dutch speed skater}}
{{family name hatnote|Van Helden|Helden|lang=Dutch}}
{{Infobox speed skater
|nationality=Dutch<br />French
|name=Hans van Helden
|image=Hans van Helden.jpg
|caption=Hans van Helden in 1975
|headercolor= #d7ecff
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1948|4|27|df=y}}
|birth_place=[[Almkerk]], the Netherlands
|death_date=
|death_place=
|country=[[Netherlands]]<br />[[France]]
| height = {{convert|1.80|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|75|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| pb = 500&nbsp;m: 39.08 (1988)<br/>1000&nbsp;m: 1:16.32&nbsp;(1988)<br />1500&nbsp;m: 1:55.61&nbsp;(1976)<br />3000&nbsp;m: 4:08.11&nbsp;(1984)<br />5000&nbsp;m: 6:57.69&nbsp;(1988)<br />10 000&nbsp;m: 14:34.88&nbsp;(1988)
|sport=[[Speed skating]]
|club=CEPG, Paris
|coach=Frank Sverre Furuset, Marie-France Van Helden
|alma_mater=
| turnedpro = 1973
| retired = 1988
| show-medals    = yes
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalCountry|{{NED}}}}
{{MedalOlympics}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1976 Winter Olympics|1976 Innsbruck]] | 1,500 m}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1976 Winter Olympics|1976 Innsbruck]] | 5,000 m}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1976 Winter Olympics|1976 Innsbruck]] | 10,000 m}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World All-Round Speed Skating Championships for Men|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalBronze|1976 Heerenveen | Allround}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[European Speed Skating Championships for Men|European Championships]]}}
{{MedalSilver|1973 Grenoble| Allround}}
{{MedalBronze|1974 Eskilstuna| Allround}}
}}

'''Hans van Helden''' (born 27 April 1948) is a former [[Speed skating|speed skater]], originally competing for the [[Netherlands]], later for [[France]].

==Life and career==
[[File:Hans van Helden 1975.jpg|thumb|300px|Hans van Helden with physical trainer Henk Gemser in 1975]]
[[File:Hans van Helden 1977.jpg|thumb|300px|Hans van Helden in 1977]]
Despite being a very talented speed skater and having an excellent skating style and technique, Van Helden never won any major international tournaments. However, he did become [[KNSB Dutch Allround Championships|Dutch Allround]] Champion twice (1976 and 1977) and he did break two world records. Being the then-current world record holder on the 5,000&nbsp;m, he "only" finished 3rd on that distance during the [[1976 Winter Olympics]] in [[Innsbruck]], possibly because the ice was in much worse condition during his race than it was when his major rivals ([[Sten Stensen]] and [[Piet Kleine]]) ran theirs.

In Dutch skating, Van Helden was known as an ''enfant terrible''. His clashes with fellow Dutch skaters, his being fed up with fighting the KNSB (''Koninklijke Nederlandsche Schaatsenrijders Bond'' – the Royal Dutch Skaters Federation), and (in 1980) his marriage to a French skater ([[Marie-France Vives]]), led to his [[naturalisation]] to French citizenship in December 1981. As a Frenchman, having very little competition from other French skaters, he had no problems qualifying for skating events. This also resulted in a long career as a speed skater and he participated in international competitions until he was 40.<ref name=r1/>

One of his most memorable feats was finishing 4th on the 1,500&nbsp;m during the [[1984 Winter Olympics]] in [[Sarajevo]], aged 35, and well ahead of his former compatriots, Dutchmen [[Hilbert van der Duim]], [[Frits Schalij]], and [[Hein Vergeer]].<ref name=r1/>

==Records==

===Personal records===
{{PersonalRecordsTop}}
{{PersonalRecordsSport| Men's [[Speed skating]]}}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle| 500 meter| '''39.00'''| 5 January 1986| [[Eisstadion Davos|Davos]]| }}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle| 1000 meter| '''1:16.32'''| 18 February 1988| [[Olympic Oval|Calgary]]| }}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle| 1500 meter| '''1:55.61'''| 13 March 1976| [[Eisstadion Inzell|Inzell]]| }}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle| 3000 meter| '''4:08.11'''| 8 March 1984| [[Eisstadion Inzell|Inzell]] | }}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle| 5000 meter| '''6:57.59'''| 17 February 1988| [[Olympic Oval|Calgary]]| }}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle| 10000 meter| '''14:34.84'''| 21 February 1988| [[Olympic Oval|Calgary]] | }}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle| Big combination|'''165.385'''|6 March 1988| [[Medeo]]| }}
{{PersonalRecordsBottom}}

Van Helden was number one on the [[Adelskalender (skating)|Adelskalender]], the all-time allround speed skating ranking, from 13 March 1976 to 25 December 1976 – a total of 287 days. He has an Adelskalender score of 163.047 points.

===World records===
Over the course of his career, Van Helden skated two [[List of speed skating records|world records]]:

{| class='wikitable'
|-
!Event!!Result!!Date!!Location!!Note
|-
|[[World record progression 5,000 m speed skating men|5000 m]]||'''7:07.82'''||30 January 1976||align=left| [[Vaillant Arena|Davos]]|| World record until 5 March 1976
|-
|[[World record progression 1,500 m speed skating men|1500 m]]||'''1:55.61'''||13 March 1976||align=left| [[Eisstadion Inzell|Inzell]]|| World record until 20 March 1977
|}

<small>Source: SpeedSkatingStats.com<ref name=stats>
{{cite web|title=Hans van Helden
|url=http://www.speedskatingstats.com/index.php?file=skater&code=1948042701
|publisher=SpeedSkatingStats.com
|accessdate=29 August 2012}}</ref></small>

==Tournament overview==
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
! <br /> Season
![[:nl:Nederlandse kampioenschappen schaatsen allround mannen|Dutch <br /> Championships <br /> Allround]]
![[European Speed Skating Championships for Men|European <br /> Championships <br /> Allround]]
![[Speed skating at the Winter Olympics|Olympic <br /> Games]]
![[World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Men|World <br /> Championships <br /> Allround]]
![[World Sprint Speed Skating Championships for Men|World <br /> Championships <br /> Sprint]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1970–71 || {{center|AMSTERDAM}} <hr /> DQ 500m <br /> 17th 5000m <br /> 12th 1500m <br /> DNQ 10000m <hr /> NC overall || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | 
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1971–72 || {{center|DEVENTER}} <hr /> 4th 500m <br /> 13th 5000m <br /> 6th 1500m <br /> DNQ 10000m <hr /> NC overall(13th) || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | 
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1972–73 || {{center|HEERENVEEN}} <hr /> {{gold1}} 500m <br /> 5th 5000m <br /> {{silver2}} 1500m <br /> 27th 10000m <hr /> {{bronze3}} overall || {{center|GRENOBLE}} <hr /> 4th 500m <br /> 5th 5000m <br /> {{silver2}} 1500m <br /> 6th 10000m <hr /> {{silver2}} [[:nl:Europees kampioenschap schaatsen mannen 1973|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|DEVENTER}} <hr /> 25th 500m <br /> 5th 5000m <br /> 11th 1500m <br /> 6th 10000m <hr /> 7th [[:nl: Wereldkampioenschap schaatsen allround mannen 1973|overall]] || {{center|OSLO}} <hr /> 25th 500m <br /> 5th 1000m <br /> 24th 500m <br /> 8th 1000m <hr /> 16th [[:nl:Wereldkampioenschappen schaatsen sprint 1973|overall]] 
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1973–74 || {{center|ASSEN}} <hr /> 5th 500m <br /> 4th 5000m <br /> {{silver2}} 1500m <br /> 5th 10000m <hr /> 4th overall || {{center|ESKILSTUNA}} <hr /> 10th 500m <br /> {{gold1}} 5000m <br /> 6th 1500m <br /> {{silver2}} 10000m <hr /> {{bronze3}} [[:nl:Europees kampioenschap schaatsen mannen 1974|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|INZELL}} <hr /> 9th 500m <br /> 6th 5000m <br /> {{gold1}} 1500m <br /> 12th 10000m <hr /> 5th [[:nl: Wereldkampioenschap schaatsen allround mannen 1974|overall]] || {{center|INNSBRUCK}} <hr /> 22nd 500m <br /> 6th 1000m <br /> 24th 500m <br /> {{silver2}} 1000m <hr /> 8th [[:nl:Wereldkampioenschappen schaatsen sprint 1974|overall]] 
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| 1974–75 || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1975–76 || {{center|GRONINGEN}} <hr /> {{gold1}} 500m <br /> {{gold1}} 5000m <br /> {{gold1}} 1500m <br /> {{silver2}} 10000m <hr /> {{gold1}} overall || {{center|OSLO}} <hr /> 4th 500m <br /> 5th 5000m <br /> {{bronze3}} 1500m <br /> 5th 10000m <hr /> 5th [[:nl:Europees kampioenschap schaatsen mannen 1976|overall]] || {{center|INNSBRUCK}} <hr /> 19th [[Speed skating at the 1976 Winter Olympics – Men's 500 metres|500m]] <br /> 5th [[Speed skating at the 1976 Winter Olympics – Men's 1000 metres|1000m]] <br /> {{bronze3}} [[Speed skating at the 1976 Winter Olympics – Men's 1500 metres|1500m]] <br /> {{bronze3}} [[Speed skating at the 1976 Winter Olympics – Men's 5000 metres|5000m]] <br /> {{bronze3}} [[Speed skating at the 1976 Winter Olympics – Men's 10000 metres|10000m]] || {{center|HEERENVEEN}} <hr /> 4th 500m <br /> {{gold1}} 5000m <br /> 5th 1500m <br /> 10th 10000m <hr /> {{bronze3}} [[:nl: Wereldkampioenschap schaatsen allround mannen 1976|overall]] || {{center|WEST BERLIN}} <hr /> 12th 500m <br /> {{gold1}} 1000m <br /> 19th 500m <br /> {{gold1}} 1000m <hr /> 4th [[:nl:Wereldkampioenschappen schaatsen sprint 1976|overall]] 
|- style="vertical-align: top;" 
| <br /> 1976–77 || {{center|ASSEN}} <hr /> {{bronze3}} 500m <br /> {{silver2}} 5000m <br /> {{gold1}} 1500m <br /> {{silver2}} 10000m <hr /> {{gold1}} overall || {{center|LARVIK}} <hr /> 7th 500m <br /> 4th 5000m <br /> 6th 1500m <br /> 5th 10000m <hr /> 5th [[:nl:Europees kampioenschap schaatsen mannen 1977|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|HEERENVEEN}} <hr /> 12th 500m <br /> {{gold1}} 5000m <br /> 7th 1500m <br /> 11th 10000m <hr /> 7th [[:nl: Wereldkampioenschap schaatsen allround mannen 1977|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1977–78 || {{center|EINDHOVEN}} <hr /> {{gold1}} 500m <br /> 4th 5000m <br /> {{bronze3}} 1500m <br /> DNS 10000m <hr /> 12th overall || {{center|OSLO}} <hr /> 4th 500m <br /> 13th 5000m <br /> 7th 1500m <br /> 15th 10000m <hr /> 12th [[:nl:Europees kampioenschap schaatsen mannen 1978|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | 
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| 1978–79 || {{center|HEERENVEEN}} <hr /> 7th 500m <br /> {{silver2}} 5000m <br /> 4th 1500m <br /> 5th 10000m <hr /> 4th overall || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1979–80 || {{center|THE HAGUE}} <hr /> 8th 500m <br /> 5th 5000m <br /> {{silver2}} 1500m <br /> 6th 10000m <hr /> 4th overall || {{center|TRONDHEIM}} <hr /> 13th 500m <br /> 13th 5000m <br /> 13th 1500m <br /> 15th 10000m <hr /> 13th [[:nl:Europees kampioenschap schaatsen mannen 1980|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1980–81 || {{center|ASSEN}} <hr /> 4th 500m <br /> 9th 5000m <br /> 5th 1500m <br /> 11th 10000m <hr /> 7th overall || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1981–82 || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|OSLO}} <hr /> 15th 500m <br /> 13th 5000m <br /> 9th 1500m <br /> 16th 10000m <hr /> 15th [[:nl:Europees kampioenschap schaatsen mannen 1982|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|ASSEN}} <hr /> 28th 500m <br /> 5th 5000m <br /> 15th 1500m <br /> 15th 10000m <hr /> 15th [[:nl: Wereldkampioenschap schaatsen allround mannen 1982|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1982–83 || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|THE HAGUE}} <hr /> 8th 500m <br /> 19th 5000m <br /> 13th 1500m <br /> DNQ 10000m <hr /> NC [[:nl:Europees kampioenschap schaatsen mannen 1983|overall]] (17th) || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|OSLO}} <hr /> 13th 500m <br /> 15th 5000m <br /> 6th 1500m <br /> 16th 10000m <hr /> 14th [[:nl: Wereldkampioenschap schaatsen allround mannen 1983|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1983–84 || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|LARVIK}} <hr /> 13th 500m <br /> 10th 5000m <br /> {{gold1}} 1500m <br /> 6th 10000m <hr /> 6th [[:nl:Europees kampioenschap schaatsen mannen 1984|overall]] || {{center|SARAJEVO}} <hr /> 24th [[Speed skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics – Men's 500 metres|500m]] <br /> 18th [[Speed skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics – Men's 1000 metres|1000m]] <br /> 4th [[Speed skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics – Men's 1500 metres|1500m]] <br /> 11th [[Speed skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics – Men's 5000 metres|5000m]] <br /> 25th [[Speed skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics – Men's 10000 metres|10000m]] || {{center|GOTHENBURG}} <hr /> 8th 500m <br /> 22nd 5000m <br /> 7th 1500m <br /> 15th 10000m <hr /> 10th [[:nl: Wereldkampioenschap schaatsen allround mannen 1984|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1984–85 || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|ESKILSTUNA}} <hr /> 22nd 500m <br /> 24th 5000m <br /> 27th 1500m <br /> DNQ 10000m <br /> <hr /> NC [[:nl:Europees kampioenschap schaatsen mannen 1985|overall]] (26th) || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|HAMAR}} <hr /> 33rd 500m <br /> 22nd 5000m <br /> 27th 1500m <br /> DNQ 10000m <hr /> NC [[:nl: Wereldkampioenschap schaatsen allround mannen 1985|overall]] (27th) || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1985–86 || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|OSLO}} <hr /> 16th 500m <br /> 8th 5000m <br /> 14th 1500m <br /> 13th 10000m <hr /> 14th [[:nl:Europees kampioenschap schaatsen mannen 1986|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|INZELL}} <hr /> 19th 500m <br /> 12th 5000m <br /> 26th 1500m <br /> 10th 10000m <hr /> 14th [[:nl: Wereldkampioenschap schaatsen allround mannen 1986|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1986–87 || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|TRONDHEIM}} <hr /> 23rd 500m <br /> 24th 5000m <br /> 21st 1500m <br /> DNQ 10000m <hr /> NC [[:nl:Europees kampioenschap schaatsen mannen 1987|overall]] (24th) || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|HEERENVEEN}} <hr /> 28th 500m <br /> 32nd 5000m <br /> 31st 1500m <br /> DNQ 10000m <hr /> NC [[:nl: Wereldkampioenschap schaatsen allround mannen 1987|overall]] (31st) || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1987–88 || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|THE HAGUE}} <hr /> 14th 500m <br /> 18th 5000m <br /> 13th 1500m <br /> DNQ 10000m <hr /> NC [[:nl:Europees kampioenschap schaatsen mannen 1988|overall]] (18th) || {{center|CALGARY}} <hr /> 33rd [[Speed skating at the 1988 Winter Olympics – Men's 500 metres|500m]] <br /> 29th [[Speed skating at the 1988 Winter Olympics – Men's 1000 metres|1000m]] <br /> 19th [[Speed skating at the 1988 Winter Olympics – Men's 1500 metres|1500m]] <br /> 22nd [[Speed skating at the 1988 Winter Olympics – Men's 5000 metres|5000m]] <br /> 23rd [[Speed skating at the 1988 Winter Olympics – Men's 10000 metres|10000m]] || {{center|ALMA–ATA}} <hr /> 30th 500m <br /> 7th 5000m <br /> 17th 1500m <br /> {{bronze3}} 10000m <hr /> 8th [[:nl: Wereldkampioenschap schaatsen allround mannen 1988|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |
|}
* NC = Did not qualify for the final distance; classification calculated from the three shorter distances
* DQ = Disqualified
* DNQ = Did not qualify for the final distance
<small>source:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.speedskatingstats.com/index.php?file=skater&code=1948042701
|title = Hans van Helden|publisher = speedskatingstats.com |access-date = 16 November 2022}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedskatingnews.info/skater/hans-van-helden
|title = Hans van Helden|publisher = speedskatingnews.info |access-date = 23 November 2022}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://speedskatingresults.com/index.php?p=17&s=4437
|title = Hans van Helden|publisher = speedskatingresults.com |access-date = 23 November 2022}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=https://app.isuresults.eu/events|title =Hans van Helden|publisher = ISU.org
|access-date = 23 November 2022}}</ref></small>

==Medals won==
{| class="wikitable"
! Championship!!Gold <br /> {{gold1}}!!Silver <br /> {{silver2}}!!Bronze <br /> {{bronze3}}
|-
| [[:nl:Nederlandse kampioenschappen schaatsen allround mannen|Dutch Allround]] || style="text-align:center" | 8 || style="text-align:center" | 7 || style="text-align:center" | 3
|-
| [[European Speed Skating Championships for Men|European Allround]] || style="text-align:center" | 2 || style="text-align:center" | 3 || style="text-align:center" | 2
|-
| [[Speed skating at the Winter Olympics|Olympic Games]] || style="text-align:center" | 0 || style="text-align:center" | 0 || style="text-align:center" | 3
|-
| [[World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Men|World Allround]] || style="text-align:center" | 3 || style="text-align:center" | 0 || style="text-align:center" | 2
|-
| [[World Sprint Speed Skating Championships for Men|World Sprint]] || style="text-align:center" | 2 || style="text-align:center" | 1 || style="text-align:center" | 0
|}

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=r1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200417195324/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/va/hans-van-helden-1.html Hans van Helden]. sports-reference.com</ref>
}}
* Eng, Trond. ''All Time International Championships, Complete Results: 1889 – 2002''. Askim, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 2002.
* Teigen, Magne. ''Komplette Resultater Internasjonale Mesterskap 1889 – 1989: Menn/Kvinner, Senior/Junior, allround/sprint''. Veggli, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 1989.

==External links==
* [http://www.speedskatingstats.com/index.php?file=skater&code=1948042701 Hans van Helden at SpeedSkatingStats.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070212091729/http://web.telia.com/~u46130641/adel.htm The Adelskalender pages maintained by Evert Stenlund]

{{adelskalender_leaders}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Helden, Hans Van}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Dutch male speed skaters]]
[[Category:French male speed skaters]]
[[Category:Olympic speed skaters for France]]
[[Category:Olympic speed skaters for the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Speed skaters at the 1976 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Speed skaters at the 1984 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Speed skaters at the 1988 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in speed skating]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1976 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:World Allround Speed Skating Championships medalists]]
[[Category:World record setters in speed skating]]
[[Category:People from Almkerk]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from North Brabant]]
[[Category:20th-century French sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century Dutch sportsmen]]