Lillehammer 20 February 1994, XVII Olympic Winter Games: eventual winner Johann KOSS of Norway competes in the men's speed skating 10000m in Hamar. Credit: Getty Images/BRUTY SimonBorn: 29 October 1968
Birthplace: Oslo (Norway)
Nationality: Norway
Sport: Skating
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Albertville 1992
Lillehammer 1994
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 4
Silver: 1
Other results:
World Championships
Gold: 3 (90, 91, 94)
Silver: 1 (93)
Bronze: 1 (92)
Three World Record Victories
In 1992 Johann Koss spent the day of the Opening Ceremony in a hospital bed with an inflamed pancreas. After passing a gallstone, he travelled to Albertville. He finished only seventh at 5,000m, an event in which he held the world record, but a week after leaving the hospital he won a gold medal in the 1,500m and then added a silver at 10,000m.
At the Lillehammer Games, Koss dominated the speed skating events. First he broke his own world record in the 5,000m. Then he defended his 1,500m title, setting another world record. Finally he won the 10,000m, bettering his own world record by 12.99 seconds and winning the event by 18.70 seconds - the second largest margin of victory in Olympic history.
As a symbol of respect, the Dutch team presented Koss with a golden butterfly, an honour normally reserved for gold medal winners from their own country. An active supporter of the humanitarian Olympic Aid project, Koss was chosen in 1999 to be a member of the International Olympic Committee. During the 2002 Session in Salt Lake City he announced his departure from the Athletes' Commission.
