Speed Skating Legends Share Memories of 1994 Lillehammer Olympics

(ATR)Speed skaters Johann Olav Koss and Dan Jansen were among the biggest stars to emerge from the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics.

Koss won three gold medals in front of the hometown Norwegian fans and the American Jansen overcame adversity on and off the ice to win an elusive gold medal in his final Olympic race.

The powerful Norwegian skater Koss blazed to gold medals in the 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 meter races – setting new world records in each – amid a sea of Norwegian flags waved by passionate fans at the Viking Ship in Hamar.

As a perennial favorite, Jansen faltered at both the 1988 Calgary and 1992 Albertville Games. Prior to the 500m in Calgary, Jansen learned that his sister Jane had died of Leukemia and fell in the race later that day.

In Lillehammer ’94 – skating on world record pace in his 500-meter specialty – Jansen once again slipped and ended eighth. Four days later, Jansen defied expectations finally winning a gold medal in the 1,000-meters, while shattering the world record in his last chance at Olympic glory.

With the Winter Youth Olympic Games opening in Lillehammer on Friday, Feb. 12, the Olympic speed skating legends shared their thoughts and memories of the 1994 Games in exclusive interviews with Around the Rings.

"It was an unbelievable dream coming true – a feeling of relief and happiness," Koss told ATR of his emotions following his third gold medal performance in front of the Norwegian fans. "I remember after the 10,000-meters, it was a feeling like this big backpack of weight was lifted off my shoulders."

"Being an athlete, I was part of hosting the Olympics, even though we competed there," Koss said. "It made us proud to represent to our country in relation to everything that happened at the Games."

Jansen said that the passionate and welcoming Norwegian fans helped him finally achieve victory in the 1,000-meter race.

"The atmosphere in Lillehammer and Hamar was really unlike any other Winter Games I’ve been to before or since," Jansen told ATR. "It had something special about it and it had a lot to do with the people. You could tell the pride and excitement they felt to host the Games."

Koss also spoke of the warm Lillehammer atmosphere and hospitality of the Norwegian people.

"Anywhere we walked, including the police, everybody shook your hand and asked what they could do for you – ‘welcome here, great to see you, good luck,’’ Koss said of February 1994, adding that "we got to share some of the Norwegian heritage and tradition."

"The public in the stadiums endorsed an athletic achievement – it didn’t matter where you were from," Koss said. "They also supported people who failed – for instance, when Dan Jansen slipped in the 500 everybody was crying.

"Then when he won the 1,000 meters and skated around with his daughter Jane, everybody was crying again," said the Norwegian skating icon, referring to Jansen’s tear-filled victory lap.

After Jansen’s gold medal race and throughout his victory lap, Norwegians accompanied American fans chanting "USA, USA, USA."

"There were plenty of Americans in the crowd, but it was still an overwhelming majority of people so a lot of that was coming from them," Jansen recalled of the Norwegian supporters. "It was cool."

Koss added of the Norwegian fans: "They loved when the Norwegians did well, but they also loved great achievements and stories."

Honored for their achievements, Koss and Jansen both carried their nations’ flags at the closing ceremony.

Despite the Norwegian Parliament voting against hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics in Oct. 2014, Koss said he would like to see another Norwegian bid.

"I always think that the Winter Olympics should come back to Norway," Koss said. "I wonder if the sentiment will be able to change – we have some domestic issues to deal with that I’m not sure the Youth Olympic Games will be able to sort out."

Koss, 47, an IOC member until 2002, currently lives in Toronto and is the CEO of the international humanitarian organization, Right to Play.

Jansen said that Koss is still a "great friend" and informed that he has contributed to Right to Play, including a trip to Tanzania for the organization awhile back.

Jansen, 50, lives in North Carolina and is a speed skating commentator and motivational speaker recollecting his story of overcoming personal tragedy and heartbreak to win Olympic gold in Lillehammer.

He also established the Dan Jansen Foundation in memory of his sister, who died just prior to him competing in Calgary 1988, with the purpose of fighting leukemia.

Written by Brian Pinelliin Lillehammer

Homepage photo: Getty/Simon Bruty/ALLSPORT

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