Kjeld Nuis has extended his contract with Team Reggeborgh for three years on Tuesday. The three-time Olympic champion is now attached to the skating team of trainer Gerard van Velde until the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“Since my switch to Reggeborgh, I have not regretted a single day. I never want it any other way as a team,” says 32-year-old Nuis. “How cool is it then that we can put a dot on the horizon together and aim for the Olympic Games of 2026. I am happy and proud that they are giving me that chance.”
Nuis made the switch from Jumbo-Visma to Reggeborgh two years ago. He peaked this year by extending his Olympic title in the 1,500 meters at the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February. The success in China has inspired Nuis to continue until the next Winter Games.
“I have felt again how incredibly cool the Olympics are,” says the sprinter, who went to Reggeborgh in 2020 together with Ireen Wüst, who has since stopped. “The moment we entered there we had the feeling: this is what we are going to do. So magical. She is 36 now, which is the same age as I will be in Milan in four years. And if I still want something, then it’s an Olympic title in Milan.”
Kjeld Nuis extended his Olympic title in the 1,500 meters in Beijing.
Kjeld Nuis extended his Olympic title in the 1,500 meters in Beijing. Photo: EPA
Nuis will also focus on team pursuit
Nuis achieved its greatest successes in the service of Jumbo-Visma. The South Hollander took gold four times at the World Championship distances and made an impression at the 2018 Games by winning Olympic gold in the 1,000 and 1,500 meters. On behalf of Reggeborgh, Nuis became European champion in the 1,500 meters this year.
In the run-up to the 2026 Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Nuis will not only focus on the 1,000 and 1,500 meters, because he also wants to play a role in the team pursuit. The Netherlands disappointed badly in Beijing on that part and due to Sven Kramer’s skating pension, a place has become available.
“I really want to be part of a team with Marcel Bosker and Patrick Roest where we use the same tactics as Norway and America did with pushing. I’m sure we can do that too and would like to train for it,” said Nuis.
Training with Bosker and Roest for the team pursuit will not be a problem next season, because both skaters recently made the switch from Jumbo-Visma to Reggeborgh. Both Roest and Bosker signed for two years.