Skating Ingrid Haringa began her career as a speed skater. During the late eighties she was considered one of the best sprinters in the Netherlands. At the Dutch Championships, she won four gold medals: in the 500 meters in 1987 and 1988 and in the 1000 meters in 1988 and 1989. She participated as part of the Dutch team at the
1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary. She finished 15th in the
500 meters and 21st in the
1000 meters. At the
World Sprint Championships in 1989 she finished fourth. She subsequently shifted her focus to cycling.
Personal bests Haringa's personal bests are: • 500 m – 40.61 (1988) • 1000 m – 1:21.41 (1989) • 1500 m – 2:10.56 (1987) • 3000 m – 4:43.62 (1990) • 5000 m – 8:21.8 (1983)
Cycling In 1991 she made her debut at the
UCI Track Cycling World Championships in
Stuttgart. There, she started in the
team pursuit,
sprint and the
points race. She became world champion in the latter two disciplines at her first attempt. She subsequently defended her world title in the points race for three years in a row. At the
1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, she won a bronze medal in the
sprint. Her performance at the
1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta was even better, as she won silver in the
points race, as well as another bronze in the
sprint. In 1996, she also competed in the
road race, despite being a track sprinter; however, she did not finish the race. Because of her performances on the velodrome, she was named
Dutch Sportswoman of the Year in 1991 and in 1996.
Post-active career In 1998 she went back to the skating rink, but now as coach of
Gianni Romme and
Bob de Jong. After one season Haringa was succeeded by the American
Peter Mueller. ==See also==