Special award for the Dutch record Olympic champion Ireen Wüst: King Willem-Alexander appointed the speed skater Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau when honoring the medal winners in Beijing.
Wüst is the first person coming from the sport to receive this honor. The 35-year-old will end her career in March at the World Cup finals in Heerenveen/Netherlands.
Wüst, who was made a Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau after her first Olympic victory in Turin in 2006 over 3000 m, was the first person to win gold at five different Winter Games. In total she won 13 Olympic medals: six gold, five silver and two bronze.