Shoulder to shoulder, with the Dutch flag between them, the medal winners skate their lap of honor.
Their parents’ joy is almost as great. “I really can’t believe it. What a race,” says mother Nannette. “You can only make a film out of this. Together on stage, on Melle’s birthday,” says father Jan.
The family trip to Milan seems to be paying off nicely for the Van ‘t Woutjes. “It’s a nice outing in itself,” the proud father jokes.
‘Duo Penotti’
“They are a bit like Duo Penotti. They are inseparable,” says Jan.
The brothers are very proud of each other. “I think I was happier for Melle because I saw everything from the sidelines. I saw how out of shape he was in the summer and where he came from,” says Jens
“It was actually my dream to go to the Games with Melle. I think it’s so great that he finishes this ride for me. I used to be not sporty at all and Melle could do everything very well. This is how it should be for me.”