Jeroen Straathof

Jeroen Straathof is the first person to have competed in the Winter Olympics, the Summer Olympics and the Paralympics, although he is not handicapped himself. Primarily a speed skater, Straathof was a Junior World Champion in 1992 and he qualified for the 1994 Olympics in his top event, the 1500 metres. He won the 1996 World Championships and two World Cup races in that same event, but surprising failed to qualify for the 1998 Olympics, and he fell at the 2002 Dutch Olympic trials. He attended the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta with his girlfriend Evelyn van Leeuwen, who played in the Dutch wheelchair basketball team. He met visually impaired cyclist Jan Mulder there, and the two teamed up for tandem races (4 km pursuit), with Straathof as the pilot. They placed second at the 1998 World Championships, won the 1999 European Championships and crowned their partnership with gold at the 2000 Paralympics. Straathof continued his involvement in track cycling, and joined the Dutch 4 km team pursuit squad. His best World Championships performance in that event was 4th (2004), and the Dutch team came fifth at the Athens Games. He subsequently ended his sports career, but remained active in the athletes’ commission of the Dutch NOC, and also worked for Right to Play, a charity organization founded by fellow ex-speed skater Johann Olav Koss.

Personal Bests: 500 – 36.26 (2000); 1000 – 1:10.76 (2000); 1500 – 1:47.76 (1999); 5000 – 6:53.82 (1995); 10000 – 14:48.80 (1994).