Grenoble, February 1968, X Olympic Winter Games. Women's speed skating: Christina KAISER of Holland in action during an event. Credit: IOC Olympic Museum CollectionsOther names: BAAS, Christina KAISER, S.KAISER, Stien
Born: 20 May 1938
Birthplace: Delft (Netherlands)
Nationality: Netherlands
Sport: Skating
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Grenoble 1968
Sapporo 1972
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 1
Silver: 1
Bronze: 2
Other results:
World Championships
Gold: 2 (67, 68)
Silver: 4 (69, 70, 71, 72)
Bronze: 2 (65, 66)
The Oldest Individual Winter Woman Winner
Christina Kaiser was already 29 years old when she first competed at the Olympics in 1968. She won a bronze medal at 1,500m. She entered the 3,000m as the reigning world record holder, but again she finished only third. In 1972, Baas-Kaiser also entered the 1,500 and the 3,000. This time she held the world record in both events. In the 1,500 she earned a silver medal, losing to Dianne Holum by only one fifth of a second.
Three days later, Baas-Kaiser won the gold medal at 3,000m. Her margin of victory, 6.53 seconds, remains the largest in the history of women's speed skating. Baas-Kaiser also retains a place in the Winter Olympics record book as the oldest woman to win a gold medal in an individual event. When she won the 3,000m in 1972, her age was 33 years 268 days.
