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Femke Kok

Netherlands

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSNED20510200001
NOCNetherlands
Born05 Oct 2000 in  Drachten
GenderWomen
ResidenceNij Beets, NED
OccupationAthlete
LanguagesDutch
Higher educationBusiness Administration - Groningen University: Netherlands
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 36.83 16 Feb 2024 Calgary  
    1000m 1:12.87 04 Dec 2021 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1500m 1:58.10 13 Oct 2019 Inzell  
    3000m 4:14.33 29 Sep 2019 Heerenveen  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
World Junior Championships
Event  
World Junior Championships
    500m 1 1    
    1000m 1 1    
    1500m 1 1    
    Team Pursuit 6 Laps 1 1    
    Team Sprint 2      
    Allround 2      
World Single Distances Championships
Event  
World Single Distances Championships
    500m 2 1    
    Team Sprint 1      
World Sprint Championships
Event  
World Sprint Championships
    Team Sprint 1      
    Overall   2    
European Single Distances Championships
Event  
European Single Distances Championships
    500m 2      
    1000m   1    
    Team Sprint 1 1    
European Sprint Championships
Event  
European Sprint Championships
    Overall   1 1  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Club / TeamTeam Reggeborgh: Netherlands  
General Interest
General Interest
HobbiesSocialising with family and friends, boating, cooking, shopping, travel. (orangegas.nl, 01 Jan 2021; schaatsteamreggeborgh.nl, 14 Feb 2020)  
Awards and honoursShe has received the Egbert van 't Oever Encouragement Prize on two occasions. The prize is given to the most promising young Dutch speed skater. (schaatsen.nl, 01 Feb 2020)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Name of coachGerard van Velde [club], NED; Dennis van der Gun [club], NED  
General Interest
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto"Try to stay as calm as possible." (trouw.nl, 01 Nov 2020)  
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/Femke-Kok-103441084854690  
twitter.com/KokFemke  
General Interest
General Interest
Famous relativesHer father skated in A Division marathons in the Netherlands, while her mother competed in speed skating at club level. (spelersvrouw.nl, 08 Jun 2021; omropfryslan.nl, 18 Jan 2021)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sport"I used to go skating with my parents back in the days when there were still cold winters. I used to do gymnastics alongside speed skating as a kid. Therefore I was very agile and I think that helps a lot in learning technique. My father also guided me a lot. I've been working on my technique since I was a little kid. My father even adjusted my skates to help me learn to lean over my right leg when putting the skate on the ice."  
When and where did you begin this sport?She began skating at age two. At about age seven or eight she joined the De Kluners speed skating club in Drachten, Netherlands.  
General Interest
General Interest
Other informationPSYCHOLOGICAL HELP
She sought the help of a sports psychologist early in her career. "I never won anything as a kid, I was always so nervous. In training I could skate way faster than in the races. It got worse and worse, even to a point that I loathed racing, while I loved speed skating. I put way too much pressure on myself. When I was [age] 15, I even visited a sports psychologist. With the help of the sports psychologist I changed my mindset and from then on, I could cope with the nerves way better. Of course I'm still nervous at the start, but it doesn't affect my racing so much anymore." (isu.org, 06 Feb 2021)

IMPROVING ON 1000m
After winning a gold in the 500m at the 2023 World Single Distances Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands, she expects to improve her performances in the 1000m. "I haven't mastered it. Sometimes I drive a good one, sometimes a very bad one. The big goal for the coming season [2023/24] is that 1000m. The 500m remains the most fun distance, but I would like to become a more complete sprinter. If I could become all-round champion among the juniors, why can't I ride a decent 1000m now?" (schaatsen.nl, 16 Aug 2023)
 
InjuriesA groin injury meant her training was disrupted ahead of the 2021 National Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands. She went on to place second in the 500m at the tournament. (nu.nl, 30 Oct 2021)  
AmbitionsTo win a gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games. (orangegas.nl, 01 Jan 2021)  
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs"Before a match I still like to be myself, to have a chat with everyone and to have fun. But once I'm on the ice, I do everything I can to win. And turn into a racing machine? I hope so, that's the goal every time." (nu.nl, 28 Oct 2021)  
Memorable sporting achievementWinning gold in the 500m at the 2023 World Single Distances Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands. (volkskrant.nl, 03 Mar 2023)  
MilestonesShe became the first female speed skater representing the Netherlands to win the 500m at the world single distances championships when she finished in first place at the 2023 edition of the tournament in Heerenveen, Netherlands. (SportsDeskOnline, 04 Nov 2023; volkskrant.nl, 03 Mar 2023)  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships Team Sprint1  
    2021/2022 World Sprint Championships Team Sprint1  
    2023/2024 European Single Distances Championships Team Sprint1  
    2021/2022 European Single Distances Championships 500m1  
    2022/2023 World Single Distances Championships 500m1  
    2023/2024 European Single Distances Championships 500m1  
    2023/2024 World Single Distances Championships 500m1  
    2021/2022 European Single Distances Championships 1000m2  
    2019/2020 European Single Distances Championships Team Sprint2  
    2022/2023 European Sprint Championships Overall2  
    2021/2022 World Sprint Championships Overall2  
    2020/2021 World Single Distances Championships 500m2  
    2023/2024 World Sprint Championships Overall2  
    2020/2021 European Sprint Championships Overall3  
    2019/2020 European Single Distances Championships 500m4  
    2022 Olympic Games 500m6  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships 500m9  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 500m1  
    2023/2024 Quebec, QC Team Sprint1  
    2023/2024 Obihiro Mixed Gender Relay1  
    2022/2023 Heerenveen Team Sprint1  
    2023/2024 Quebec, QC 500m1  
    2023/2024 Obihiro 500m1  
    2020/2021 Heerenveen 500m1  
    2020/2021 Heerenveen 500m1  
    2020/2021 Heerenveen 500m1  
    2020/2021 Heerenveen 500m1  
    2023/2024 Stavanger Team Sprint2  
    2021/2022 Heerenveen 500m2  
    2023/2024 Quebec, QC 1000m2  
    2023/2024 Quebec, QC 500m2  
    2023/2024 Tomaszów Mazowiecki 500m2  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 1000m3  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 500m3  
    2022/2023 Calgary, AB Team Sprint3  
    2023/2024 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m3  
    2023/2024 Obihiro Team Pursuit3  
    2020/2021 Heerenveen 1000m3  
    2021/2022 Salt Lake City, UT 500m3  
    2020/2021 Heerenveen 1000m3  
    2023/2024 Stavanger 500m3  
    2023/2024 Tomaszów Mazowiecki 500m3  
    2023/2024 Obihiro 500m3  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 500m4  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 1000m5  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 1000m6  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification 500m9  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification 1000m42  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 500m43