Auke Adema

Career

In the sixth race in 1940 he controversially shared the victory with Durk van der Duim, Cor Jongert, Piet Keijzer and Sjouke Westra. In Dokkum they had made a conspiracy to cross the finish line together. This became known as the Pact of Dokkum.

The practice of non competitive finishing was outlawed after this.

In the race he broke away from the pack with two others to have an early lead.

Achievements

• He won the Elfstedentocht, the world"s largest speed skating competition twice. Adema won the seventh Elfstedentocht by himself on 6 February 1941 in a time of 9 hours 19 minutes, a race record. However, when stopping to eat a sausage with Joop Bosman at Workum, other skaters managed to get ahead, but Adema overtook and won by three minutes over Bosman.