Johannes Nicolaas Maria ("Jeroen") Straathof (born 18 November 1972) is a retired Dutch racing cyclist and speed skater. Straathof was the first, and still the only, athlete in the world to represent his country at the Summer Olympics, the Winter Olympics and the Paralympics.

Jeroen Straathof
Straathof (2017)
Personal information
Birth nameJohannes Nicolaas Maria Straathof
NationalityDutch
Born (1972-11-18) 18 November 1972 (age 52)
Zoeterwoude, Netherlands
Sport
CountryNetherlands
SportSpeed skating
Turned pro1992
Retired2004
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)500 m: 36.26 (2000)
1000 m: 1:10.76 (2000)
1500 m: 1:47.76 (1998)
3000 m: 3:51.87 (1998)
5000 m: 6:53.82 (1994)
10 000 m: 14:48.80 (1994)
Medal record
Men's speed skating
Representing the  Netherlands
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 1992 Warsaw Allround
World Single Distance Championships
Gold medal – first place 1996 Hamar 1500 m
Men's track cycling
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney Individual pursuit tandem open
IPC World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1998 Individual pursuit tandem open
IPC European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1999 Individual pursuit tandem open

Life

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Straathof started his sports career as a speed skater, becoming World Junior Champion in Warsaw 1992.[1] His best distance was the 1500 metres, and as the longest distances were his worst he only participated in one international all-round championship in his career. He made his Olympic debut at the 1994 Winter Olympics held in Lillehammer. He was qualified for the 1500 metres and placed 9th. In 1996 the World Single Distance Championships were introduced, and Straathof became the first World Champion over 1500 metres. He was never able to equal this performance or come close to winning another medal, and he made a switch to track cycling.

As pilot at the tandem he teamed up with visually handicapped cyclist Jan Mulder. In 1998 they took part in the World Championships and won the silver medal. At the 1999 European Championships they won the gold, and a year later they were acclaimed 2000 Summer Paralympics champions.

Straathof decided to make another switch, and became part of the Dutch Team Pursuit team that qualified for the 2002 World Championships, where they placed seventh. A year later they placed 9th, and in 2004 they improved their ranking to the fourth position. The team, composed of Straathof, Jens Mouris, Peter Schep and Levi Heimans, also qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics where they came in fifth. After those Olympics Straathof ended his professional sports career.

Finally, Straathof is one of the few athletes who have competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympic games.[2]

Private life

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Straathof is the brother of former speed skater Judith Straathof. He is married to wheelchair basketball player Evelyn van Leeuwen and they have four children.[3]

Speed skating

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Personal records

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Personal records
Men's Speed skating
Event Result Date Location Notes
500 m 36.26 19 March 2000 Calgary
1000 m 1:10.76 18 March 2000 Calgary
1500 m 1:47.76 19 February 1999 Calgary
3000 m 3:51.87 15 August 1998 Calgary
5000 m 6:53.82 4 December 1994 Heerenveen
10000 m 14:48.80 29 December 1993 Heerenveen


Tournament overview

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Season
Dutch
Championships
Allround
Dutch
Championships
Single
Distances
Dutch
Championships
Sprint
 
Olympic
Games
World
Championships
Single
Distances
World
Championships
Allround
World
Championships
Sprint
World
Championships
Junior
Allround

1990–1991
THE HAGUE

14th 1500m

1991–1992
ALKMAAR

6th 500m
14th 5000m
7th 1500m
DNQ 10000m
13th overall
HEERENVEEN

6th 1000m
5th 1500m
12th 5000m
WARSAW

8th 500m
  3000m
  1500m
6th 5000m
  overall

1992–1993
ASSEN

11th 500m
10th 5000m
4th 1500m
12th 10000m
10th overall
DEVENTER

  1500m
12th 5000m
13th 10000m

1993–1994
HEERENVEEN

5th 1500m
11th 5000m
10th 10000m
LILLEHAMMER

9th 1500m

1994–1995
ASSEN

7th 500m
5th 5000m
  1500m
7th 10000m
6th overall
THE HAGUE

  1500m
7th 5000m
12th 10000m
BASELGA di PINÈ

16th 500m
16th 5000m
6th 1500m
DNQ 10000m
13th overall

1995–1996
THE HAGUE

4th 500m
7th 5000m
  1500m
9th 10000m
6th overall
GRONINGEN

  1500m
HAMAR

  1500m

1996–1997
ASSEN

5th 500m
9th 5000m
  1500m
DNQ 10000m
13th overall
WARSAW

5th 1500m

1997–1998
HEERENVEEN

6th 1000m
6th 1500m
GRONINGEN

14th 500m
6th 1000m
20th 500m
5th 1000m
20th overall
CALGARY

7th 1500m

1998–1999
GRONINGEN

17th 500m
5th 1000m
  1500m
GRONINGEN

6th 500m
6th 1000m
20th 500m
20th 1000m
19th overall

1999–2000
DEVENTER

7th 500m
20th 1000m
  1500m

2000–2001
THE HAGUE

  500m
  1000m
5th 1500m
HEERENVEEN

4th 500m
  1000m
4th 500m
  1000m
  overall
SALT LAKE CITY

15th 1500m
INZELL

35th 500m
41st 1000m
33rd 500m
21st 1000m
38th overall

2001–2002
GRONINGEN

9th 500m
11th 1000m
16th 1500m
  • DNQ = Did not qualify for the last event

Source:[4] [5]

Cycling

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Results

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Track cycling (pilot at the tandem), 4 km pursuit

  • World championships 1998: Silver medal
  • European championships 1999: European champion
  • Paralympic game Sydney 2000: Paralympic champion [6]

Track Cycling, 4 km team pursuit

  • World championships 2002: 7th
  • World championships 2003: 9th
  • World championships 2004: 4th
  • Olympic games Athene 2004: 5th [7]

References

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  1. ^ "Uitslagen WK Junioren Heren" (in Dutch). schaatsen.nl. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  2. ^ "Jeroen Straathof". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  3. ^ RadioGuys.nl. "Rolstoelbasketballers door naar kwartfinale paralympics". Sleutelstad. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  4. ^ "Jeroen Straathof". SpeedSkatingNews.
  5. ^ "Jeroen Straathof". schaatsstatistieken.nl. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games Cycling (Track) Men's Individual Pursuit Tandem open". www.paralympic.org. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  7. ^ "Netherlands Cycling at the 2004 Athina Summer Games". www.sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2012.