Netherlands at the 2014 Winter Olympics

The Netherlands competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia from 7 to 23 February 2014. The Dutch team was the largest Dutch delegation at a Winter Olympics, with 41 competitors that participated in bobsleigh, short track speed skating, snowboarding, and speed skating.

Netherlands at the
2014 Winter Olympics
IOC codeNED
NOCDutch Olympic Committee*
Dutch Sports Federation
Websitewww.nocnsf.nl (in Dutch)
in Sochi
Competitors41 in 4 sports
Flag bearer Jorien ter Mors (opening)[1]
Bob de Jong (closing)[2]
Medals
Ranked 5th
Gold
8
Silver
7
Bronze
9
Total
24
Winter Olympics appearances (overview)
Other related appearances
1906 Intercalated Games

With a total of 24 medals, it turned out to be the most successful Winter Games ever for the Dutch team. The Dutch team won 23 medals in speed skating and one medal in short track speed skating. Olympic speed skating records were set on the men's 5,000 metres by Sven Kramer, the men's 10,000 metres by Jorrit Bergsma, the men's team pursuit by Jan Blokhuijsen, Sven Kramer and Koen Verweij, the women's 1,500 metres by Jorien ter Mors and the women's team pursuit by Marrit Leenstra, Jorien ter Mors and Ireen Wüst. By sweeping the podium in speed skating at the men's 500 m, 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres, and the women's 1,500 m, the Netherlands became the first country in Winter Olympics history to achieve four podium sweeps at one edition of the Games.

King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and Minister of Health, Welfare, and Sport Edith Schippers attended the Olympics. The Holland Heineken House was the meeting place for supporters and athletes during the Olympics.

Medalists

The Dutch team won 24 medals of which 23 were in (long track) speed skating and one in short track speed skating.

The speed skaters swept the podiums in the men's 500 metres, men's 5,000 metres, men's 10,000 metres, and the women's 1,500 metres.[3] The Netherlands is the first country to achieve four podium sweeps at one Winter Olympics edition (beating the previous record of two which was achieved by Norway in 1924, 1928 and 1932, Soviet Union in 1964, East Germany in 1972 and 1984 and Germany in 1998).

In the women's 1,500 metres speed skating, Dutch athletes placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th; the first such result in Olympic speed skating history by athletes from a single nation.

Team
Dutch team entering the stadium during the opening ceremony

The Dutch team consisted of 41 competitors that participated in bobsleigh (6), short track speed skating (10), snowboarding (6), and speed skating (20). It was the largest Dutch delegation ever at the Winter Olympics.[4] It was also the first time that the Netherlands had an athlete competing in two different sports: Jorien ter Mors competed in both short track speed skating and speed skating. Jorien ter Mors was the Dutch flag bearer at the opening ceremony[1][5] and Bob de Jong was the flag bearer at the closing ceremony.[2] Maurits Hendriks was the chef de mission for the Dutch team.[6]

Sports

Bobsleigh
Main article: Bobsleigh at the 2014 Winter Olympics
Pilot Edwin van Calker and crewman Bror van der Zijde in the Dutch two-man bobsleigh on 17 February 2014

The Dutch bobsledders (6 athletes) competed with one team in each bobsleigh event: two-man, four-man, and two-woman. Their best result was a fourth place of the two-woman team.[7]

Athlete Event Run 1 Run 2 Run 3 Run 4 Total
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Edwin van Calker*
Bror van der Zijde		 Two-man 57.54 =21 57.46 21 57.38 =18 56.95 15 3:49.33 19
Edwin van Calker*
Sybren Jansma
Arno Klaassen
Becanti Wijnbergh
 Four-man 55.55 13 55.57 15 55.82 12 55.75 12 3:42.69 11
Esmé Kamphuis*
Judith Vis		 Two-woman 57.94 5 58.10 6 58.20 6 58.03 2 3:52.27 4

Key: * denotes pilot of each sled, = denotes multiple teams share the same rank. Source:[7]

Short track speed skating
Main article: Short track speed skating at the 2014 Winter Olympics

The Dutch short track speed skaters (10 athletes) competed in all eight short track events.[8]

The Netherlands qualified the maximum of five skaters of each gender for the Olympics during World Cup 3 & 4 in November 2013.[9] Four men qualified for the 500 metres, but only three were allowed to start. The selection committee of the Dutch Speed Skating Federation (KNSB) decided that Daan Breeuwsma would not compete in the 500 metres.[10]

Sjinkie Knegt won the bronze medal in the men's 1000 metres, which is the first ever Olympic medal in short track speed skating for the Netherlands.[11]

Men
Sjinkie Knegt won bronze at the 1000 m.
Dutch relay team after finishing fourth
Athlete Event Heat Quarter-final Semi-final Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Niels Kerstholt 500 m 42.441 3 Did not advance 24
1000 m 1:25.695 3 Did not advance 19
1500 m 2:13.848 1 Q N/A 2:17.134 6 DNA 16
Freek van der Wart 500 m 41.190 2 Q 1:01.371 3 Did not advance 10
1000 m PEN Did not advance —
Sjinkie Knegt 500 m 41.235 1 Q 41.683 1 Q 41.290 3 FB 42.608 8
1000 m 1:26.091 2 Q 1:25.695 2 Q 1:27.258 3 AA 1:25.611
1500 m 2:14.249 3 Q N/A 2:14.677 3 FB 2:39.581 12
Daan Breeuwsma
Niels Kerstholt
Sjinkie Knegt
Freek van der Wart		 5000 m relay N/A 6:45.385 1 FA 6:49.149 4
  • Christiaan Bokkerink was selected as part of the relay squad but did not compete during the event.

Key: AA = Advanced to medal round due to being impeded by another skater; DNA = Did not advance; FA = Qualify to medal round; FB = Qualify to consolation round; PEN = Penalty; Q = Qualified to next round. Source:[8]

Women
Jorien ter Mors
Lara van Ruijven
Athlete Event Heat Quarter-final Semi-final Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Jorien ter Mors 500 m 44.262 1 Q 43.572 2 Q 44.242 4 FB 44.331 6
1000 m 1:46.661 3 A 1:29.119 2 Q 1:30.481 3 FB 1:36.835 5
1500 m 2:21.626 1 Q N/A 2:19.382 2 FA 2:19.656 4
Yara van Kerkhof 500 m 44.044 2 Q 43.888 3 Did not advance 11
1000 m 1:29.980 3 Did not advance 18
1500 m 2:26.809 3 Q N/A 2:20.291 5 DNA 15
Lara van Ruijven 500 m 44.023 3 Did not advance 17
Jorien ter Mors
Sanne van Kerkhof
Yara van Kerkhof
Lara van Ruijven		 3000 m relay N/A PEN DNA —
  • Rianne de Vries was selected as part of the relay squad but did not compete during the event.

Key: A = Advanced to next round due to being impeded by another skater; DNA = Did not advance; FA = Qualify to medal round; FB = Qualify to consolation round; PEN = Penalty; Q = Qualified to next round. Source:[8]

Snowboarding
Main article: Snowboarding at the 2014 Winter Olympics

The Dutch snowboarders (6 athletes) competed in five of ten snowboarding events: men's halfpipe (2), women's slopestyle (1), women's parallel giant slalom (2), women's parallel slalom (2), and women's snowboard cross (1). None of the competitors advanced to the finals of their disciplines.[12]

Freestyle
Athlete Event Qualification Semi-final Final
Run 1 Run 2 Best Rank Run 1 Run 2 Best Rank Run 1 Run 2 Best Rank
Dimi de Jong Men's halfpipe 25.25 64.25 64.25 12 Did not advance 24
Dolf van der Wal 25.50 62.50 62.50 14 Did not advance 26
Cheryl Maas Women's slopestyle 18.00 31.25 31.25 9 QS 30.75 14.75 30.75 12 Did not advance 20

Key: QS = Qualify to semifinal. Source:[12]

Parallel
Athlete Event Qualification Round of 16 Quarter-final Semi-final Final
Time Rank Opposition
Time		 Opposition
Time		 Opposition
Time		 Opposition
Time		 Rank
Michelle Dekker Women's giant slalom 1:53.74 22 Did not advance 22
Women's slalom 1:05.66 19 Did not advance 19
Nicolien Sauerbreij Women's giant slalom 1:47.22 4 Q  Meschik (AUT)
L +0.05		 Did not advance 10
Women's slalom 1:05.69 20 Did not advance 20

Key: L = Lost, Q = Qualify to next round. Source:[12]

Snowboard cross
Athlete Event Seeding Quarter-final Semi-final Final
Run 1 Run 2 Best Rank Position Position Position Rank
Bell Berghuis Women's snowboard cross 1:28.19 1:28.70 1:28.19 22 5 Did not advance 20

Source:[12]

Speed skating
Main article: Speed skating at the 2014 Winter Olympics

The Netherlands qualified the maximum of ten speed skaters of each gender.[13] Individual riders were selected from the results of the Dutch Olympic Qualification Tournament, held between 27 and 30 December 2013 in Thialf, Heerenveen.[14][15]

The Dutch speed skaters competed in all twelve long track events. The Netherlands dominated in speed skating, winning eight out of the 12 gold medals and a total of 23 out of 36 medals, with medals in all events.[16] There were four Dutch podium sweeps at the men's 5000 m, men's 500 m, women's 1500 m and men's 10000 m. The women's 1,500 metres resulted in the Dutch women placing 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th; the first such result by a single nation since East Germany dominated the men's singles luge competition at the 1972 Winter Olympics.

Margot Boer, by winning the bronze medal in the women's 500 metres, won the first ever Dutch Olympic medal in that event,[17][18] while Michel Mulder was the first Dutch man to win gold at the 500 metres.[19]

Men
Dutch podium at the men's 5000 metres.
1) Sven Kramer
2) Jan Blokhuijsen
3) Jorrit Bergsma
Another Dutch podium at the men's 500 metres.
1) Michel Mulder
2) Jan Smeekens
3) Ronald Mulder
Athlete Event Race 1 Race 2 Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Jorrit Bergsma 5000 m N/A 6:16.66
10000 m N/A OR 12:44.45
Jan Blokhuijsen 1500 m N/A 1:46.50 13
5000 m N/A 6:15.71
Stefan Groothuis 500 m 35.42 24 56.81 39 92.24 38
1000 m N/A 1:08.39
1500 m N/A 1:46.08 12
Bob de Jong 10000 m N/A 13:07.19
Sven Kramer 5000 m N/A OR 6:10.76
10000 m N/A 12:49.02
Michel Mulder 500 m 34.63 2 34.67 2 69.312
1000 m N/A 1:08.74
Ronald Mulder 500 m 34.969 6 34.49 1 69.46
Jan Smeekens 500 m 34.59 1 34.72 3 69.324
Mark Tuitert 1000 m N/A 1:09.29 10
1500 m N/A 1:45.42 5
Koen Verweij 1000 m N/A 1:09.09 6
1500 m N/A 1:45.009

Key: OR = Olympic record. Source:[16]

Women
Ireen Wüst after winning the women's 3000 metres.
Dutch podium at the women's 1500 metres.
1) Jorien ter Mors
2) Ireen Wust
3) Lotte van Beek
Athlete Event Race 1 Race 2 Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Lotte van Beek 500 m 38.67 15 38.73 17 77.40 16
1000 m N/A 1:15.10 5
1500 m N/A 1:54.54
Margot Boer 500 m 37.77 5 37.71 3 75.48
1000 m N/A 1:14.90
Antoinette de Jong 3000 m N/A 4:06.77 7
Carien Kleibeuker 5000 m N/A 6:55.66
Marrit Leenstra 500 m 39.03 21 38.7 16 77.74 19
1000 m N/A 1:15.15 6
1500 m N/A 1:56.40 4
Jorien ter Mors 1500 m N/A OR 1:53.51
Yvonne Nauta 5000 m N/A 7:01.76 6
Laurine van Riessen 500 m 38.645 14 38.35 9 76.99 11
Annouk van der Weijden 3000 m N/A 4:05.75 5
Ireen Wüst 1000 m N/A 1:14.69
1500 m N/A 1:54.09
3000 m N/A 4:00.34
5000 m N/A 6:54.28

Key: OR = Olympic record. Source:[16]

Team pursuit
Athlete Event Quarter-final Semi-final Final
Opposition
Time		 Opposition
Time		 Opposition
Time		 Rank
Sven Kramer
Koen Verweij
Jan Blokhuijsen		 Men's team pursuit  France (FRA)
W 3:44.48		  Poland (POL)
W 3:40.79		  South Korea (KOR)
W 3:37.71 OR
Ireen Wüst
Lotte van Beek
Marrit Leenstra
Jorien ter Mors		 Women's team pursuit  United States (USA)
W 2:58.61 OR		  Japan (JPN)
W 2:58.43 OR		  Poland (POL)
W 2:58.05 OR
  • Jorrit Bergsma was selected as part of the men's team pursuit squad but did not compete during the event.

Key: OR = Olympic record, W = Won. Source:[16]

Supporters
The medalists of the men's 10000 metres in speed skating celebrated with fans in the Holland Heineken House

Dignitaries

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and King Willem-Alexander attended the Olympics, despite the recent troubled Dutch relationship with Russia. The pair was accompanied by the King's wife Queen Máxima and Dutch Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport Edith Schippers, with the King's status as an Honorary member of the IOC adding to the significance of his visit.[20] The visit was controversial due to the Russian anti-gay laws.[21] On the second day of the Games, King Willem-Alexander awarded the medals to the three Dutch medalists of the men's 5000 metres speed skating during the victory ceremony at medal plaza.[22]

National house

During the Games, the Netherlands had a national house; the 12th edition of the Holland Heineken House. Organized by NOC*NSF and Heineken,[23] the Dutch national house was a meeting place for Dutch supporters, athletes and other followers. The Dutch national house was located 5 km south of the Olympic Park at the Azimut Hotel Resort. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, as well as Russian president Vladimir Putin visited the Dutch national house during the Games.[24]

References
  1. "Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremony – Flagbearers" (PDF). olympic.org. Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  2. "Sochi 2014 Closing Ceremony – Flagbearers" (PDF). The International Olympic Committee (IOC). 23 February 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Ploeg Sotsji telt 41 sporters" (in Dutch). nusport.nl. 3 January 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  5. "Jorien ter Mors vlaggendraagster bij openingsceremonie" [Jorien ter Mors flag bearer at the opening ceremony] (in Dutch). 6 February 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  6. (in Dutch) "Nederland heeft meeste medailles van alle landen", Algemeen Dagblad, 2014. Retrieved on 5 March 2014.
  7. "Official Results Book Bobsleigh 16 to 23 February" (PDF). 1.0. Sochi: Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee. 23 February 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  8. "Official Results Book Short Track Speed Skating 10 to 21 February" (PDF). 1.0. Sochi: Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee. 22 February 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  9. "SPECIAL REGULATIONS & TECHNICAL RULES SPEED SKATING and SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING 2012" (PDF) (Press release). International Skating Union. June 2012. Archived from the original (pdf) on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  10. "Shorttracker Breeuwsma hekelt besluit KNSB over 500-meter" (in Dutch). Nusport.nl. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  11. Stuart Clarke (15 February 2014). "Sochi 2014: Knegt gets hands dirty to win first Dutch short track medal". The Sport Review.
  12. "Official Results Book Snowboard 6 to 22 February" (PDF). 1.0. Sochi: Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee. 23 February 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  13. December 9 Entries Speed skating Archived 24 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  14. "Schaatsers proberen olympische kwalificatie af te dwingen in Thialf" (in Dutch). Nusport.nl. 26 December 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  15. "Hoe ziet het programma van het OKT in Thialf eruit?" (in Dutch). Nusport.nl. 26 December 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  16. "Official Results Book Speed Skating 8 to 22 February" (PDF). 1.0. Sochi: Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee. 23 February 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  17. James O'Brien (11 February 2014). "Heather Richardson falls short of medal, Lee Sang-hwa wins 500m gold". NBC News.
  18. Lisette van der Geest; Pieter Sabel (11 February 2014). "Live – Margot Boer wint brons" (in Dutch). Volkskrant.nl.
  19. Steenvoort, Martine; Zwaan, Irene de (10 February 2014). "Teruglezen - Topdag: drie Nederlandse plakken met 500 meter schaatsen". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  20. "Dutch Prime Minister and King of Netherlands to break international trend and attend Sochi 2014". insidethegames.biz. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  21. "Dutch Prime Minister and King of Netherlands to break international trend and attend Sochi 2014" (in Dutch). nusport.nl. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  22. "Koning reikt medailles uit aan schaatsers" (in Dutch). ad.nl. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  23. "Holland Heineken House dichter bij olympiërs dan ooit" (in Dutch). nusport.nl. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  24. "Putin heads to Holland's Heineken House for Olympic party". 10 February 2014.
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