Скачать или смотреть Jan Hoffmann - The Professor

A little tribute to The Professor - otherwise known as Jan Hoffmann; 4 times European Champion, twice World champion in 1974 and 1980 and Olympic Silver Medallist in 1980.

Jan was a child prodigy, thrust into the spotlight aged 12 when he competed at the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble. He missed the 1972 Europeans due to injury - rumoured to be from trying triple axels in practice. Having won the World and European titles in 1974, he was unable to defend the following year due to a meniscus injury. He came back steadily, winning world and European bronze in 1976 as well as a 4th place at the Olympics. That was the last time Jan failed to make the podium.

Always consistent, Jan finally made it back to the top of the podium in 1980, defeating Robin Cousins just a few weeks after his Olympic victory at the Worlds in Dortmund. It should be remembered that had factored placements - introduced in 1981 - been in effect for the Olympics, Jan would have been the gold medallist, not Robin! While not an artistic skater, Jan was always entertaining and possessed some of the biggest triple jumps ever seen in mens skating. He set the technical benchmark for the 1970's and became only the second man to land a triple lutz in competition after Don Jackson - a feat featured in this video. While winning medals and titles each season, Jan was also balancing a heavy academic workload with the ambition of becoming a doctor which he now is.

Jan seems to be more familiar with todays skating fans for his judging and it is a shame that this has overshadowed a stellar career. Hopefully this video montage will help people to remember what a great skater he was and what an incredible career he had.