Born: 1979 (De Hoef, Utrecht, Netherlands)
Biography:
Nicolien Sauerbreij is a Dutch professional snowboarder who was born on July 31, 1979, in the small village of De Hoef in the province of Utrecht, Netherlands. She grew up in a family that was passionate about snowboarding, as her father, Maarten Sauerbreij, was also her coach. Nicolien has a sister named Marieke Sauerbreij, who is also a professional snowboarder.
Nicolien Sauerbreij’s snowboarding career started gaining momentum in 2001 when she achieved her first podium position in the World Cup in Mont-Sainte-Anne, where she finished second in the parallel giant slalom event. Just a year later, on September 15, 2002, she claimed her first World Cup victory in the parallel giant slalom, which took place in Chile at Valle Nevado. She had another victory in the same season, this time in Maribor, Slovenia. Sauerbreij continued competing in various World Cups, earning several podium positions and first-place finishes in 2002, 2003, 2008, and 2010.
Her outstanding performance led to her being ranked first in the parallel giant slalom standings of the 2007–2008 and 2009–2010 World Cup seasons. Moreover, in the 2007–2008 season, she finished first in the overall standings of the parallel giant slalom World Cup. Sauerbreij’s exceptional skills and dedication to her sport earned her recognition as one of the top snowboarders in the world.
Nicolien Sauerbreij’s most notable achievement came at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, where she won the gold medal in the women’s parallel giant slalom event. This victory was historic as it marked the first-ever gold medal for the Netherlands in a non-ice skating event at the Winter Olympics. Additionally, it was the 100th gold medal won by the Netherlands in the history of the Olympic Games.
Despite her success, Sauerbreij faced challenges and disappointments in her Olympic journey. At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, she was the flag bearer for the Netherlands but failed to qualify among the top 16 due to using the wrong wax on her board. In the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, she reached the knockout rounds but narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing just 0.03 seconds behind the German snowboarder Amelie Kober.
Throughout her career, Nicolien Sauerbreij has been an inspiration to aspiring snowboarders and has had a significant impact on the sport in the Netherlands. Her dedication, perseverance, and ability to overcome challenges have made her a role model for young athletes.
Awards:
– Gold medal in women’s parallel giant slalom at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
– First place in the overall standings of the parallel giant slalom World Cup in the 2007–2008 and 2009–2010 seasons.
– Dutch sportswoman of the year award in 2010.