Skater Ireen Wüst received the Fanny Blankers-Koen Career Award during the Sports Gala at the Papendal sports center. This oeuvre prize is awarded annually to an athlete with exceptional services to Dutch sport.
Wüst skated a huge list of honors during her career. The now 39-year-old athlete from Goirle is the only athlete in the world to win an individual gold medal at five consecutive Winter Olympics. With a total of six gold, five silver and two bronze medals, she is the most successful Dutch Olympian ever.
Wüst also won seven world all-round titles, five European all-round titles and fifteen gold medals at the World Championship distances.
“Ireen Wüst’s significance for Dutch sport goes beyond the medal tally and her performances on the ice. With her work ethic, down-to-earth view and openness about themes such as mental health among athletes, she is a role model for many,” reads the jury report.
She received the accompanying award from former professional footballer Ruud Gullit, who received the Career Award last year.
Wüst calls the prize an enormous honor. “This is an award for my entire career, you cannot get a greater honor,” says the former top skater who became a mother this year. “Is there still room for this prize in my house? I must honestly say that I have divided some prizes among family and friends, so there is still room. But maybe I will give this to my parents.”