Coen de Koning

Coen de Koning (March 30, 1879 – July 29, 1954) was twice winner of the Elfstedentocht and the second Dutch speed skating World Champion.

Born in Edam, North Holland, Netherlands, he won the speed skating title in his only World Championship competition in 1905 in the city of Groningen, Groningen province, Netherlands. He faced only three other skaters, one of whom was Martinus Lørdahl from Norway, who won the 500-meter race. After that, De Koning won all three remaining distances, thus claiming the title. De Koning participated in the 1904 and 1905 European Championships and the 1903, 1905 and 1912 Dutch Championships, winning them all. He set National Records in 1905 in the 500-meter and 10,000-meter races. These records were broken in 1926 and 1929. Coen de Koning is also famous for winning the Elfstedentocht twice, in 1912 and 1917.