Koen Verweij ends his skating career. In an interview with The Telegraph let the 31-year-old North Hollander know on Wednesday that he no longer achieves the top level that he would like due to physical complaints.
“Medical examinations have shown that my body, especially my back, just can’t handle it anymore. I’m not one to just compete for bacon and beans, because I like to drive in circles so much.” says Verweij to The Telegraph.
“When I’m at the start, I want to compete for a medal and preferably break boundaries. Now that that’s no longer possible, I have one option left: stop.”
Verweij calls winning the world all-round title in 2014 in Thialf as the highlight of his career. That same year he won gold in the team pursuit at the Winter Games in Sochi and silver in the 1,500 meters. He was 0.003 second short for the title at that distance.
Four years later, he won two bronze medals (mass start and team pursuit) at the Pyeongchang Games. The North Hollander was unable to qualify for the Games that were held in Beijing at the beginning of this year.
Verweij in action during the Olympic qualifying tournament of 2021.
Verweij in action during the Olympic qualifying tournament of 2021. Photo: Pro Shots
‘Enter the books as a colorful athlete’
Verweij took a few sabbaticals during his skating career. He doesn’t regret it, but it gives him a mixed feeling. “On the one hand, it has made me the person I am and I am very happy about that,” he says.
“But if I could advise young Koen with my current knowledge, I would let him do certain things differently. Then I could get him to the top much faster and keep him there. When I was young, I thought I already knew it all, but of course it wasn’t.
Yet Verweij is proud of what he has achieved as a skater. “I look back with a smile on the time behind me. I will go down in the books and be remembered as a colorful athlete.”
Earlier this week it was announced that Verweij’s relationship with speed skater Jutta Leerdam is over after more than five years. A few years ago, the two set up their own team (Worldstream Corendon), which was disbanded this spring after Leerdam switched to Jumbo-Visma.
On Monday it was announced that Koen Verweij’s relationship with Jutta Leerdam is over.
On Monday it was announced that Koen Verweij’s relationship with Jutta Leerdam is over. Photo: AP