Piet Kleine

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Other
SexMale
Full namePiet•Kleine
Used namePiet•Kleine
Born17 September 1951 in Hollandscheveld, Drenthe (NED)
Measurements188 cm / 86 kg
Affiliations?,
NOC Netherlands
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 2
Bronze 0
Total 3

Biography

Although a talented cyclist, Piet Kleine’s best results came as a speed skater. After a breakthrough bronze at the 1973 World Allround Championships, Kleine top year came in 1976. After winning a silver medal in the Olympic 5,000 m, he won a surprise gold in the 10k despite having to skate in the snow. A fortnight later, Kleine also grabbed the World Allround title in front of a home audience. He closed out the season by setting four World Records in the course of one week. Apart from his medals, his 1976 season also earned Kleine the award for Dutch Male Athlete of the year and a job as a mailman. In a televised interview, Kleine mentioned that he was still jobless, despite his Olympic title, and was then offered the mailman job. Although Kleine never again made the podium in international allround events, he did win a third Olympic medal, winning silver behind the unbeatable Eric Heiden in the 1980 10,000 m. After his last success, Kleine focused on (amateur) cycling, and eventually made the Dutch World Championships squad for the team time trial, placing 5th. From 1986 to 2001, Kleine participated in the Dutch marathon skating circuit, winning the 1990 Dutch title on artificial ice. He placed 5th in the 1997 Elfstedentocht (an irreggularly held 200 km race) but was disqualified for missing a checkpoint.

Personal Bests: 500 – 40.10 (1981); 1000 – 1:17.35 (1981); 1500 – 1:56.28 (1976); 5000 – 7:02.38 (1976); 10000 – 14:36.03 (1980).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1976 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) NED Piet Kleine
1,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 18
1,500 metres, Men (Olympic) 6
5,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver
10,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
1980 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) NED Piet Kleine
5,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 6
10,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver

Olympic Records

Records may have been broken subsequently during the same competition.
Games Date Sport Event Phase Mark Pos
1976 Winter Olympics 14 February 1976 Speed Skating (Skating) 10,000 metres, Men Final Standings 14:50.59 1

Other participations

Games Role NOC As
1976 Winter Olympics Flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony NED Piet Kleine
1980 Winter Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony NED Piet Kleine

Special Notes