Speed skaters Ard Schenk (Sapporo, 1972) and Yvonne van Gennip (Calgary, 1988) also won three golds in one Winter Games. At the Summer Games, swimmers Rie Mastenbroek (Berlin, 1936) and Inge de Bruijn (Sydney, 2000) succeeded. Cyclist Leontien van Moorsel also won three gold medals in Sydney. Athlete Fanny Blankers-Koen (London, 1948) is the only Dutch athlete to win four golds in one Olympics.
“It’s great”, said Schouten afterwards, who also took bronze in Beijing. “I would almost like to say: it couldn’t be better, but it could actually be better. However, I would not have dared to dream this beforehand. That everything comes together here in Beijing is a very beautiful moment. I am very grateful.”
Our team is one of the few that takes this part very seriously. We work so hard for this. I’m often the fastest, but it’s still a game and that’s why sometimes it doesn’t work. You also have to be lucky. anything can happen.”