Dan Jansen

Daniel ("Dan") Erwin Jansen (born June 17, 1965 in West Allis, Wisconsin, United States) is a former speed skater, best known for winning a gold medal in his final Olympic race after suffering through years of heartbreak. Inspired by his sister Jane, Dan Jansen took up speedskating while growing up in Wisconsin. He set a junior world record in the 500 meter race at the age of sixteen, and finished sixteenth in the 1,000 meters and fourth in the 500 meters at the 1984 Winter Olympics.

At the 1988 Winter Olympics, Jansen – having become World Sprint Champion one week before the Olympics – was a favorite for the 500 and 1,000 meter races, having improved in the years between Olympics, while overcoming a case of mononucleosis in 1987. However, in the wee hours of the day of the race, he received a phone call saying that Jane was dying of leukemia. He spoke to his sister, who was unable to respond. Later that morning, he was informed that she had died. He bravely went on to compete that night in the 500 meters, but fell early in the race. A few days later in the 1,000 meter race, he began with record-breaking speed but fell again. He left the 1988 Olympics with no medals, but he became the recipient of the U.S. Olympic Spirit Award for his valiant efforts through tragedy.

Jansen arrived at the 1992 Winter Olympics as a favorite yet again. A year before, he had set a world record in the 500 meters among his other accomplishments. But disaster struck again, as he finished fourth in the 500 meters and twenty-sixth in the 1,000 meters. So once again, Jansen left the Olympics with no medals.