‘Bizarre year’ couldn’t have been better for Dirkjan and his ‘golden’ Irene

While his brand new wife Irene recovers from yet another World Cup victory in Calgary, Canada, Dirkjan is already busy. The carpenter and his colleague are working on an extension in Bangert Oosterpolder in Zwaag. Two separate worlds, thousands of miles apart. They are used to it by now.

So it was in February, during the Olympic Games in Beijing. Forced. The strict corona measures prevented Mak’s support in China. “While during the previous Games I had said: ‘I’ll definitely be there next time’. I tried everything, but it just didn’t work.”

Shielded

So also then separate worlds. Irene in Beijing on the hunt for world fame, Dirkjan in a packed café in Wervershoof. Just before the start of the Games, he accompanied her skating team to a training camp. Shielded from the rest of the world, in order to limit the risk of a positive corona test. “Very special to experience. You are part of the team, as it were.”

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Also special were the distances that were followed in café Van Rooijen, together with many friends and acquaintances of Irene. It became a kind of fair, but then in February. “We experienced and celebrated that a lot.” Because there was plenty to celebrate. No fewer than three times ‘his’ Irene was the very best. “She won her first gold medal on the 3 kilometers. Then all the tension and emotion come out. For everyone. That went completely wild. Fantastic!”

Last Wednesday he stood next to Irene in a suit on the red carpet during the NOS Sports Gala. Beaming with pride when Irene was chosen Sportswoman of the Year.

Nice carpentry

Humberto, Op1 and at the NOS. A flexible summary of the programs Dirkjan attended as a guest last year. As a ‘friend of’ the programs wanted to know everything. How did he experience the Games and had there been contact with Irene in distant China? “At first I doubted whether I wanted that, with my head on television. But I did experience it as beautiful. A future in show business? No, I’ll keep hammering.”

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After the lavish medal harvest, a ceremony followed and a tour of Wervershoof. And the duo prepared for their day: the wedding. Dirkjan smiles. “We had a very nice day. The past year has been a rollercoaster, a bizarre year, with many new and beautiful experiences. But the marriage was the crowning glory.”

In that respect, 2023 can only be disappointing. Or not? “We are building a house. That is another new step for us, which also takes a lot of time. In addition, construction is still busy and Irene continues to skate, so there is enough to do.”