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Vanessa Herzog

Austria

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSAUT20407199501
NOCAustria
Born04 Jul 1995 in  Innsbruck
GenderWomen
ResidenceFerlach, AUT
OccupationAthlete
LanguagesEnglish, German
FamilyHusband Thomas Herzog
Other namesVanessa Bittner
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 36.83 10 Mar 2019 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1000m 1:13.43 10 Dec 2017 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1500m 1:54.92 10 Dec 2022 Calgary  
    3000m 4:21.39 16 Jan 2016 Inzell  
    5000m 8:12.34 23 Dec 2012 Innsbruck  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
World Junior Championships
Event  
World Junior Championships
    2 x 500m 1      
    500m 1 1    
    1000m 2      
    Mass Start 10 Laps 1      
World Single Distances Championships
Event  
World Single Distances Championships
    500m 1 1    
    1000m   1    
World Sprint Championships
Event  
World Sprint Championships
    Overall     1  
European Single Distances Championships
Event  
European Single Distances Championships
    500m 1 1 1  
    1000m   1 1  
    Mass Start     1  
European Sprint Championships
Event  
European Sprint Championships
    Overall 1   1  
General Interest
General Interest
Other informationFAMILY AFFAIR
Her husband Thomas works as her coach. "Speed skating is a tough sport when things are not going well, which happened to me from 2015 to 2016. I did not see any chance to progress in Austria anymore so I joined a Dutch professional team and things got worse. I could not improve and wanted to quit the sport seeing no chance at all to get back on a podium, even though I was training harder than ever before. So I sat down with my husband and we discussed our options. The only fact we knew was that my husband should not become my coach. He was a tennis and skiing coach during his studies and had no experience of speed skating. And as life is always full of surprises we nevertheless tried it and started to have fun in training again and started a very successful period which led me to the point I am now [speaking in 2021]. Thomas is with me at every training session and he sees everything I do. When I'm a bit sloppy for only a second, he keeps me sharp and helps me to raise my level time and again. There aren't many speed skaters in Austria and I train alone a lot. It really helps me to have Thomas around, otherwise I would go crazy." (sn.at, 18 Mar 2022; womenfitness.net, 23 Aug 2021; isu.org, 25 Feb 2019)

TRAINING ACCIDENT
In April 2017 she was training on her bicycle when she was hit by a truck. The accident occurred when the vehicle made an unexpected turn and Herzog was unable to brake fast enough. She was fortunate to escape with only minor cuts and bruises, despite having her leg run over. "I have been very lucky. At first I did not realise what had happened to me. It was only later when I was in the car that it hit me. I had a thousand guardian angels. It is a miracle that I escaped worse injuries." (schaatsen.nl, 11 Apr 2017)
 
Social Media
Social Media
www.vanessaherzog.at/  
General Interest
General Interest
Famous relativesHer husband Thomas Herzog has served as her coach. (Athlete, 22 Nov 2018)  
MilestonesShe became the first athlete representing Austria to win a medal in roller speed skating at the world championships when she claimed gold [500m] and bronze [1000m] at the 2018 edition of the tournament in Arnhem, Netherlands. (SportsDeskOnline, 11 Oct 2018; vanessaherzog.at, 04 Jul 2018; Facebook page, 02 Jul 2018, 01 Jul 2018)  
Awards and honoursShe was named Carinthian Sportswoman of the Year in Austria in 2019 and 2020. (Facebook page, 07 Dec 2020)

She was named Austrian Sportswoman of the Year in 2019. (tt.com, 05 Apr 2020)
 
InjuriesIn July 2021 she was diagnosed with a herniated disc after suffering from back pain for two weeks. She sustained another herniated disc in November of the same year. Her recovery period was about 10 months. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2023; kleinezeitung.at, 12 Feb 2022; Facebook page, 15 Nov 2021; diepresse.com, 08 Nov 2021; kleinezeitung.at, 04 Oct 2021; laola1.at, 06 Jul 2021)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Club / TeamTeam Novus [NED] / ESC Otrouza [AUT]:  
General Interest
General Interest
AmbitionsTo win gold at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. (meinbezirk.at, 30 Mar 2023)  
HobbiesNature, animals, hiking. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2023)  
Superstitions / Rituals / BeliefsShe puts on her right skate before her left skate. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2023)  
NicknamesVani, Nessi (Athlete, 16 Nov 2023)  
Other sportsShe has represented Austria in roller speed skating. She won gold in the 500m sprint and bronze in the 1000m sprint at the 2018 World Championships in Arnhem, Netherlands. She has also competed in athletics at national level in Austria. (SportsDeskOnline, 11 Oct 2018; kleinezeitung.at, 29 Jul 2018; meinbezirk.at, 17 Apr 2018)  
Memorable sporting achievementWinning gold in the 500m at the 2019 World Single Distances Championships in Inzell, Germany. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2023; womenfitness.net, 23 Aug 2021)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sport"I grew up next to an ice skating rink and one day I joined my cousin in speed skating. The combination of strength, smoothness, grace, and speed is unique. If you are in good shape and you enter the curve at about 55km per hour, it's an indescribable feeling."  
General Interest
General Interest
Most influential person in careerHer husband Thomas Herzog. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2023)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?She began skating in 2001 in Innsbruck, Austria. "I decided to become a professional athlete when I was 15 years old."  
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/Vanessa.Herzog.Speedskating/  
twitter.com/nessi1995  
General Interest
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto"Don't think, just skate." (Athlete, 22 Nov 2018)

"No pain, no gain." (Athlete, 16 Nov 2023)
 
Hero / IdolGerman speed skater Anni Friesinger-Postma. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2023)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Name of coachThomas Herzog [personal, husband], AUT, from 2017  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2018/2019 European Sprint Championships Overall1  
    2017/2018 European Single Distances Championships 500m1  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships 500m1  
    2019/2020 European Single Distances Championships 500m2  
    2017/2018 European Single Distances Championships 1000m2  
    2022/2023 World Single Distances Championships 500m2  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships 1000m2  
    2017/2018 European Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps3  
    2021/2022 World Sprint Championships Overall3  
    2022/2023 European Sprint Championships Overall3  
    2023/2024 European Single Distances Championships 500m3  
    2023/2024 European Single Distances Championships 1000m3  
    2022 Olympic Games 500m4  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships 1000m4  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships 500m4  
    2018/2019 World Sprint Championships Overall4  
    2018 Olympic Games 500m4  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps5  
    2020/2021 World Single Distances Championships 500m5  
    2023/2024 World Sprint Championships Overall5  
    2018 Olympic Games 1000m5  
    2020/2021 European Sprint Championships Overall6  
    2022/2023 World Single Distances Championships 1000m6  
    2023/2024 World Single Distances Championships 1000m7  
    2019/2020 European Single Distances Championships 1000m7  
    2022 Olympic Games 1000m8  
    2014/2015 World Sprint Championships Overall8  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps8  
    2016/2017 European Sprint Championships Overall8  
    2016/2017 World Sprint Championships Overall8  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships 1000m9  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships 1500m9  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps9  
    2015/2016 World Sprint Championships Overall9  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m10  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m10  
    2023/2024 World Single Distances Championships 500m11  
    2020/2021 World Single Distances Championships 1000m11  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships 1000m11  
    2019/2020 World Sprint Championships Overall12  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships 500m15  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships 1000m20  
    2017/2018 World Sprint Championships Overall21  
    2014 Olympic Games 1000m24  
    2012/2013 European Championships Allround25  
    2014 Olympic Games 2 x 500m27  
    2012/2013 World Sprint Championships Overall29  
    2014 Olympic Games 1500m34  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 500m1  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 500m1  
    2019/2020 Heerenveen 500m1  
    2018/2019 Tomaszów Mazowiecki 500m1  
    2022/2023 Tomaszów Mazowiecki 500m1  
    2018/2019 Tomaszów Mazowiecki 500m1  
    2018/2019 Obihiro 1000m1  
    2018/2019 Hamar 500m1  
    2017/2018 Erfurt 500m1  
    2017/2018 Erfurt 1000m1  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification 500m2  
    2017/2018 Minsk 500m2  
    2017/2018 Minsk 500m2  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 500m2  
    2019/2020 Nagano 500m2  
    2018/2019 Hamar 500m2  
    2022/2023 Heerenveen 500m2  
    2022/2023 Calgary, AB 500m2  
    2018/2019 Tomakomai 500m2  
    2022/2023 Tomaszów Mazowiecki 500m2  
    2018/2019 Obihiro 500m2  
    2017/2018 Erfurt 500m2  
    2018/2019 Obihiro 500m2  
    2018/2019 Heerenveen 500m2  
    2018/2019 Tomakomai 500m2  
    2019/2020 Nagano 500m3  
    2019/2020 Heerenveen 500m3  
    2022/2023 Calgary, AB 1000m3  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 500m3  
    2017/2018 Stavanger 500m3  
    2015/2016 Stavanger 1000m3  
    2019/2020 Calgary, AB 500m3  
    2020/2021 Heerenveen 500m3  
    2014/2015 Obihiro 500m3  
    2018/2019 Tomakomai 1000m3  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1000m4  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1000m4  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 500m4  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification 1000m5  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 500m5  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1000m5  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification Overall6  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1000m7  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 500m7  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification Overall9  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification Mass Start 15 Laps9  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 500m11  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 1000m13  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps15  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 500m15  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps16  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 500m16  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1000m16  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps19  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification 1500m20  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 1000m21  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 1000m23  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1500m26  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1500m28  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification Overall32  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification Mass Start34  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1000m38  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1500m38  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification Overall38  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1000m39  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 500m42  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 1000m45  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 500m46  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 1500m55