Femke Kok taking a victory lap around the ice.
Speed skating milestone for the Dutch
by Philip Barker at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium
Femke Kok’s victory in the women’s 500 metres speed skating delighted thousands of Dutch fans but also signalled the 50th Olympic gold medal in the sport for the Netherlands.
As a three-time world champion and world record holder, Kok was the favourite. She was in the last pair to skate alongside Beijing 2022 gold medallist Erin Jackson of the United States.
Kok produced an Olympic record 36.49 seconds to overtake the leader, compatriot Jutta Leerdam who had won gold in the 1000m earlier in the week.
“We know what kind of sacrifice we made. There are a lot of nerves, and then you become one and two. And that’s just an amazing feeling. We can share that feeling because we understand each other.” Kok said.
The first Dutch gold came at the Grenoble 1968 Games and their phenomenal success since has been unequalled by any country. In all they have won 141 medals.
In 1968, the women’s team were strong and had benefitted from the opening of an artificial ice rink in Deventer. They achieved a clean sweep of medals at the world championships so many expected great things at the Olympics.
Carry Geijssen won the 1000m watched by Princess Beatrix.
A few days later the late Ans Schut was victorious over 3000m. The third woman on the Dutch team was Stien Kaiser who won only bronze in 1968. Her time came in 1972 when she triumphed in the 3000m.
Women’s speed skating had not been taken seriously at this time but the Dutch television programme Andere Tijden Sport later concluded: “their fight for equality ensured that women’s speed skating went from a halftime show to one of the main events.”
At the 1972 Sapporo Games, another Dutch skater added his name to the roll of honour on no fewer than three occasions.
Ard Schenk was Olympic Champion at 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m before turning professional. He also competed in the European heats of “The Superstars,” a made for television sports series which featured stars from different sports.
There was only a single gold medal in 1976 and 1980 and none at all in 1984 but redemption came at the 1988 Calgary Games. Yvonne Van Gennip achieved a hat trick of successes — 1500m, 3000m and 5000m.
Long distance skater Bart Veldkamp was their only champion in 1992 at Albertville in the last open-air racing.
Not until the 1998 Nagano Games did the Dutch win another gold in the sport. These Games had doubles from Gianni Romme in the men’s 5000m and 10,000m, and Marianne Timmer who won over 1000m and 1500m.
Jochem Uytdehaage maintained the men’s renaissance at Salt Lake City with gold in both 5000m and 10,000m.
Gerard Van Velde so often the nearly man, took the 1000m.
It was at Torino 2006 that Timmer repeated her gold over 1000m, but the city also witnessed the arrival of a superstar.
Irene Wust won gold at 3000m and triumphed at least once in each of her next four Olympics.
The Dutch men took two further golds in 2010 and in Sochi eight of the 12 available titles were saluted in orange.
At Pyeongchang 2018, the Netherlands gathered seven titles including two for Kjeld Nuis.
In Beijing six gold medals came for the Netherlands, alongside four silver and two bronze.
Wust signed off with the 1500m gold, but it was Ireen Schouten who was the star performer with gold at 3000m, 5000m and in the mass start.
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