Jaap Havekotte facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 March 1912 Diemen, Netherlands |
| Died | 23 April 2014 (aged 102) Hilversum, Netherlands |
| Sport | |
| Country |  Netherlands |
| Sport | Speed skating |
Jaap Havekotte (born March 16, 1912 – died April 23, 2014) was a famous Dutch speed skater. He competed in many Dutch championships during the 1940s. But he is most famous for something else. Jaap Havekotte founded a company called Viking Schaatsenfabriek. This company made ice skates. These Viking skates became very popular with skaters all over the world.
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Who Was Jaap Havekotte?
Jaap Havekotte was born in Diemen, Netherlands. He loved speed skating. He spent many years on the ice. He was a talented skater himself. Later, he wanted to make better skates for everyone. This dream led him to start his own company.
Starting a Skate Company
Jaap Havekotte started Viking Schaatsenfabriek. This company made high-quality ice skates. He wanted to help skaters perform their best. His company focused on making strong and fast skates.
The Success of Viking Skates
Viking skates quickly became very popular. Many top speed skaters chose them. By 1972, something amazing happened. Every single speed skating world record was set on Viking ice skates! This showed how good his skates were. They helped athletes achieve incredible speeds.
The Revolutionary Clap Skate
Viking was also a leader in skate technology. They were the first company to mass-produce the clap skate. The clap skate was a big change in speed skating. It has a hinge at the front. This lets the blade stay on the ice longer. It gives skaters more power. This invention helped skaters go even faster.
'Uncle Jaap' to Skaters
Jaap Havekotte had a big impact on speed skating. He was respected by many athletes. Later generations of speed skaters looked up to him. They often called him 'Oom Jaap'. This means 'Uncle Jaap' in Dutch. It showed their fondness and respect for him.
His Legacy
Jaap Havekotte lived a very long life. He passed away on April 23, 2014. He was 102 years old. His legacy lives on through Viking skates. He helped shape the sport of speed skating. His work made skates better for athletes everywhere.
