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Who is doing it all with whom in the skating world?

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I feel that the Netherlands cannot stop talking about the skaters representing our country in Milan. Every conversation these days starts with: “Did you see what the ladies rode yesterday?” And as we are, we are at least as curious about their love life as we are about their lap times. What struck me: it seems like all skaters are in a relationship with someone who also prefers to fly across the ice at dozens of kilometres per hour. Is there something in the cold air of the skating rink? And if so, when can I date there?

Suzanne Schulting and Joep Wennemars

Suzanne Schulting we of course know as the short track queen who took Olympic gold and can't seem to get enough of world and European titles. And she is also successful in love. In 2024, Team Essent brought Joep Wennemars and her closer together: the same training sessions, the same schedules and, above all, the same ambition. Suzanne said earlier that there was an instant click between the two. They have now been officially together for a year, fairly privately, but clearly close. Joep Wennemars is sprint talent and plenty of talk of the town in recent days. Five days ago, he seemed on his way to Olympic gold, until things went wrong on the straight. Chinese speed skater Ziwen Lian did not give him the right of way, resulting in lost time and eventual medal loss. Suzanne could hardly watch it from the stands and laid her head on the shoulder of her father-in-law Erben Wennemars. And that bond with Erben seems to be a good one. When Suzanne herself heard she was allowed to go to the games, she first hugged her coach and then immediately flew into Erben's arms. Quite a hit.

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Joy Beune and Kjeld Nuis

Joy Beune is one of the Netherlands“ fastest sprint talents and she has medals at NKs and World Cups to prove it. But her heart has not just been beating for the ice since 2019: she has been with Kjeld Nuis, Olympic gold medallist in the 1000 and 1500 metres in both PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022, for a few years now. And although he immortalised his love for Joy with a full underarm portrait of her (nothing says ”forever" more than a tattoo), the marriage proposal remains on the way. Joy is ready, but has one condition: he has to ask when she looks nice, not while she's running around in a jogging suit.

Zoë Deltrap and Jens van ’t Wout

Jens van ’t Wout has been in a relationship with Zoë Deltrap for several years. And yes, like almost every skating love story, it started on the ice. Two years ago, Jens confirmed their relationship in an interview with Helden Magazine: the advantage of a partner who is a top athlete himself, he says, is an understanding of early training sessions, little social life and the pressure of competitions. And that's quite something. Zoë and Jens are now the shorttrack couple of the Netherlands. Just last Thursday, Jens took phenomenal gold in the 1000 metres, while Zoë proudly shared everything on TikTok. Also fun: Zoë is the daughter of former shorttrack star Priscilla Ernst, who competed when shorttrack was still a demonstration sport.

Selma Poutsma and Melle van ’t Wout

Love is bursting forth from the Van ’t Woutjes. At the skating rink, not only Jens, but also Melle van ’t Wout found his heart. Together with Selma Poutsma, he started in the national shorttrack team, but it was not an instant feast: Melle had to work hard to conquer Selma, often armed with flowers. It was two years later; during a holiday in Aruba in 2021, their relationship became a reality. Since then, the two have been inseparable and even survived a warning from national coach Jeroen Otter after a sneaky night together during a training camp. They won't make that mistake again. And soon they will take their love to Heerenveen to live together.

Jutta Leerdam and former Koen Verweij

Jutta Leerdam is not only one of the best-known skaters in the Netherlands, she is now simply one of the best-known Dutch people, full stop. Her speciality is the 500 and 1000 metres. And she showed that again this week by going home with a gold and a silver medal around her neck. And forward, also with her brand new Birkin, which we of course got to enjoy via her socials. These days, she shines alongside her fiancé Jake Paul, but earlier she found love on the ice. Who remembers Koen Verweij? Long track speed skater, marathon skater and certainly not averse to success: in 2014, he won gold and silver and crowned himself all-round world champion. The couple had been together for five years and lived in the heart of the skating world: Heerenveen. Meanwhile, Koen has also found love again. He has been together with Lisa Helvie for two years, and no, she does not skate. They don't share much about their relationship; the occasional insta snapshot appears, but that's about it.

Michel Tsiba and Daria Danilova

Shorttrack, sprint or marathon skating: there is a pair for every variant of gliding across ice with iron shoes. And the same goes for figure skating. Michel Tsiba and Daria Danilova are not only a couple, they are also the first Dutch figure skating couple to be allowed to compete in the Olympics. Daria grew up in Russia and was matched with Michel by one of her coaches. There was no romance at first, but soon the partners on the ice also became partners off the rink. They are proof that love and top sport can go together perfectly.