Skater Koen Verweij ends his skating career. In an interview in De Telegraaf, 31-year-old Verweij says that he can no longer skate at the top level that he would like due to physical complaints. He says in the newspaper that it was not an easy choice.
Verweij calls winning the world all-round title in 2014 in Thialf as the highlight of his skating career. That same year he won gold in the team pursuit at the Winter Games in Sochi and silver in the 1500 meters. Four years later, he won two more 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.
Earlier this week it was announced that Verweij’s relationship with speed skater Jutta Leerdam is over after more than five years. Verweij and Leerdam set up their own team a few years ago. The team (Worldstream-Corendon) was disbanded this spring after the skater switched to Jumbo-Visma.