Born: 1964 (Haarlem, Netherlands)
Biography:
Yvonne Maria Therèse van Gennip, born on May 1, 1964, is widely regarded as one of the most successful female Dutch all-round speed skaters. Her remarkable achievements came to prominence during the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, where she defied all expectations and secured three gold medals. This outstanding feat established her as the most successful athlete of the entire games, alongside Matti Nykänen of Finland.
Leading up to the 1988 Winter Olympics, Van Gennip faced a significant setback when she injured her foot and underwent surgery less than two months before the games. Due to this unfortunate circumstance, the East German women were heavily favored to dominate the distances over 500 meters. However, Van Gennip astounded the world by shattering the world record by nearly five seconds to claim victory in the 3000 meters event. Not resting on her laurels, she smashed her personal record by almost four seconds in the 1500 meters, earning her second gold medal. To complete her triumphant campaign, Van Gennip skated almost seven seconds faster than her own previous world record time and snatched gold in the 5000 meters as well.
While her unrivaled success came in 1988, Van Gennip also participated in the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo and the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville. Unfortunately, she did not manage to secure any medals during those games. However, her incredible achievements in Calgary solidified her legacy as one of the greatest speed skaters of her time.
In addition to her Olympic accomplishments, Van Gennip also excelled in the World Speed Skating Championships. She captured a silver medal in the 1988 edition of the championships and bronze medals in both the 1987 and 1989 championships. These achievements further demonstrate her consistent brilliance on the ice.
Van Gennip’s early life began in Haarlem, where she was born to Johannes Gerardus van Gennip and Reina Elisabeth Mettes on May 1, 1964. Her passion for speed skating started at a young age and was nurtured throughout her childhood. It was during her formative years that she honed her skills, setting the stage for her future successes on the ice.
In her personal life, Van Gennip married bank director Gert van Kuijk on August 15, 2002, in Zandvoort. However, the couple divorced in 2009. Since 2010, she has been in a relationship with Jaap de Groot, the lead editor for sports at De Telegraaf.
Awards:
– Three gold medals at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada
– Silver medal in the 1988 World Speed Skating Championships
– Bronze medals in the 1987 and 1989 World Championships.