Yvonne van Gennip

Celebrity   , ,
Yvonne Maria

Name: Yvonne Maria Therèse van Gennip

Introduction: Yvonne van Gennip is a Dutch former speed skater. She is celebrated as one of the most successful female Dutch all-round speed skaters in history, most notably for her stunning and unexpected triumph at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, where she won three gold medals, breaking world records.

Date of birth: May 1, 1964

Height: 1.66 m (5 ft 5½ in)

Place of birth: Haarlem, Netherlands

Family:

  • Parents’ names: Johannes Gerardus van Gennip (father) and Reina Elisabeth Mettes (mother).
  • Siblings: Information not widely publicized.
  • Spouse:
    • Gert van Kuijk (m. 2002; div. 2009), a bank director.
    • Since 2010, she has been in a relationship with Jaap de Groot, lead editor for sports for De Telegraaf.
  • Children: Information not consistently available, but no publicly known children from her relationships.
  • Relatives: Her parents.

Profession: Former professional speed skater, currently involved in sports administration and talent development.

Nationality: Dutch

Religion: Information not consistently available.

College or university attended: She was a former medical student, though details about her specific university or completion of a degree are not widely publicized as she pursued her elite sports career.

Biography and What Famous For:

Yvonne van Gennip began her speed skating career at a young age. She showed early promise, winning a bronze medal at the World Junior All-Around Championships in 1981 and a silver in 1982. She competed in her first Winter Olympics in Sarajevo in 1984, but did not win any medals there.

Leading up to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, van Gennip was a strong competitor, having won 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter World Cup titles in 1987, and setting world records in the 3,000 m and 5,000 m that year. However, her chances for Olympic glory seemed diminished after she suffered a foot injury requiring surgery less than two months before the Games. East German women were heavily favored to dominate the speed skating events.

However, Yvonne van Gennip staged one of the most remarkable upsets in Olympic history in Calgary, which is what she is most famous for:

  • 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics Triple Gold Medalist: Despite her injury and lower expectations, she delivered a stunning performance, capturing three gold medals in the long-distance events, all in Olympic record times:
    • 1,500 meters: She won gold, beating the seemingly unbeatable Karin Kania-Enke of East Germany.
    • 3,000 meters: She won gold, smashing her own world record by almost five seconds.
    • 5,000 meters: She won gold, setting a new world record by an incredible almost seven seconds, finishing significantly ahead of her East German rivals.
  • Most Successful Athlete at the 1988 Winter Olympics: Along with Finnish ski jumper Matti Nykänen, she was the most successful athlete at the Calgary Games, a truly unexpected feat that brought her immense fame in the Netherlands and worldwide. Upon her return to Haarlem, she was welcomed by 60,000 fans.

Van Gennip participated in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville as well but did not win a medal, never quite matching her Calgary success. She won a silver medal in the 1988 World Speed Skating Championships and bronze medals in 1987 and 1989. She ended her career with 13 Dutch national titles and 10 World Cup race wins.

Post-retirement, Yvonne van Gennip has remained involved in sports. She served as a flagbearer for the Netherlands at the closing ceremonies of both the 1984 and 1988 Winter Olympics. She later co-founded the Yvonne van Gennip Talent Fund (YVGTF), an organization dedicated to supporting and developing young Dutch sports talent. In 2024, the fund announced that it had provided over 1 million euros in support to talents, teams, and sports federations, marking a significant impact on Dutch sports development.

Have participated (Selected Career Highlights):

Olympic Games:

  • 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics: Competed, no medals (6th in 1000m, 11th in 1500m, 5th in 3000m).
  • 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics:
    • Gold Medal (1,500 meters)
    • Gold Medal (3,000 meters) – World Record
    • Gold Medal (5,000 meters) – World Record
  • 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics: Competed, no medals (6th in 3000m).

World Championships:

  • World Allround Speed Skating Championships: Silver (1988), Bronze (1987, 1989)
  • World Junior Allround Speed Skating Championships: Bronze (1981), Silver (1982)

European Championships:

  • European Allround Speed Skating Championships: Silver (1985, 1986, 1987), Bronze (1988, 1991)

World Records:

  • 3000 m: 4:16.85 (1987), 4:11.94 (1988)
  • 5000 m: 7:20.36 (1987), 7:14.13 (1988)

Other:

  • Co-founder of the Yvonne van Gennip Talent Fund (YVGTF).
  • Flagbearer for the Netherlands at the closing ceremonies of the 1984 and 1988 Winter Olympics.

Yvonne van Gennip Photos: