Melissa Wijfje

Club / Team

Team Zaanlander : Netherlands

Famous relatives	Her partner Marcel Bosker has also represented the Netherlands in speed skating, winning gold in team pursuit at the world single distances championships in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Her younger brother Tom has competed in speed skating at elite junior level. (SportsDeskOnline, 14 Nov 2021; Instagram profile, 31 Oct 2021; schaatsacademiehaarlem.nl, 07 Mar 2014)
Awards and honours	In 2020 she was inducted into the Walk of Fame at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen, Netherlands. (cruyffacademy.nl, 28 Sep 2020) In 2013 and 2017 she was named Female Athlete of the Year in Nieuwkoop, Netherlands. (nieuwkoop.rtvlokaal.nl, 11 Mar 2017; nieuwsregio.nl, 08 Mar 2014)

Name of coach	Jillert Anema [club], NED
When and where did you begin this sport?	She began speed skating at age five in Leiden, Netherlands.

Other information

BEIJING RESERVE She missed out on a spot on the Dutch team for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, but travelled to Beijing as a reserve. At the Dutch Olympic qualifying tournament, she had finished 0.02s off third place in the women's 1500m, with the top three skaters qualifying. "In the end I was able to be a reserve and experience the Olympic Games in Beijing up close. I skated on the Olympic ice and saw my teammate Irene Schouten win three gold medals. Still, I stood there with mixed feelings on the sidelines. I want to be there myself in four years [at the 2026 Games in Milan-Cortina] and compete for medals." (hanzemag.nl, 07 Feb 2022; melissawijfje.com, 01 Mar 2022) BALANCING SPORT AND STUDY In 2018 she began studying commercial economics at the Johan Cruyff Academy in Groningen, Netherlands. "I started a higher vocational course in Leiden once before. I remember having to explain to 10 teachers again and again why I couldn't take an exam [due to her skating commitments]. Now I have three contacts who are aware of exactly what I do and where I am. They help me with how I can pass exams despite all the training and tournaments. It is possible and we will make clear agreements about it. People think that I do not have time to study during the skating season, but that is not the case. In the summer you lay the foundation for your fitness. That's when I come home exhausted in the evening and sometimes have little energy left for studying. In the skating season itself I have more room for studying." (cruyffacademy.nl, 10 Mar 2021)

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Reason for choosing this sport

Her parents wanted her to learn how to skate and she enjoyed skating on the natural ice in her garden. "My parents live in Korteraar on the water, this is the reason we had to learn to skate. When the winters were harsh we could enjoy ourselves on the ice."

Most influential person in career	Dutch speed skater [and her partner] Marcel Bosker. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"Go hard or go home." (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)
Other sports	She has competed in road cycling races, including the 2018 Tour of Uppsala in Sweden. (procyclingstats.com, 29 Jun 2019)
Ambitions	To win gold in the 1500m or 3000m at the Olympic Winter Games or world championships. Away from competition, she aspires to start a sports-related business. (cruyffacademy.nl, 10 Mar 2021)
Injuries	In 2014 she was diagnosed with Graves' disease, a condition that affects the thyroid. She was not able to train for a period and lost weight. (schaatsen.nl, 18 Oct 2014)