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Irene Schouten

Netherlands

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSNED22106199201
NOCNetherlands
Born21 Jun 1992 in  Zwaagdijk-Oost
GenderWomen
ResidenceAmsterdam, NED
LanguagesDutch, English
OccupationAthlete
FamilyHusband Dirkjan Mak
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 39.24 05 Mar 2022 Hamar  
    1000m 1:18.41 27 Oct 2013 Heerenveen  
    1500m 1:52.12 05 Dec 2021 Salt Lake City, UT  
    3000m 3:52.89 03 Dec 2021 Salt Lake City, UT  
    5000m 6:41.25 05 Mar 2023 Heerenveen  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
Olympic Games
Event  
Olympic Games
    3000m 1      
    5000m 1      
    Mass Start 1   1  
    Team Pursuit     1  
World Allround Championships
Event  
World Allround Championships
    Allround 1      
World Single Distances Championships
Event  
World Single Distances Championships
    3000m 1 1 1  
    5000m 2 1 1  
    Mass Start 3   3  
    Team Pursuit 2      
European Allround Championships
Event  
European Allround Championships
    Allround   1    
European Single Distances Championships
Event  
European Single Distances Championships
    3000m 1 1    
    Mass Start 16 Laps 2 1    
    Team Pursuit 6 Laps 2      
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Club / TeamAlbert Heijn Zaanlander: Netherlands  
General Interest
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievementWinning four medals [three gold and one bronze] at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. (ireneschouten.nl, 01 Mar 2022)  
Other sportsShe has competed in marathon skating, and won five consecutive Dutch national titles between 2016 and 2020. She has represented the Netherlands in roller speed skating, winning a gold medal in the road 5000m relay at the 2012 World Championships in Rome, Italy, and has also competed as a cyclist at the Dutch national championships. In 2019 she won the first edition of the Dutch Red Bull 400 event, in which competitors race up a ski jump. The contest took place in Einsiedeln, Switzerland. (SportsDeskOnline, 09 Jan 2020; redbull.com, 18 Jun 2019; ad.nl, 14 Jun 2018; nos.nl, 15 Sep 2012)  
Famous relativesHer brother Simon Schouten has represented the Netherlands in speed skating, winning gold in team pursuit at the 2018 European Single Distances Championships in Kolomna, Russian Federation. Her niece Kelly Schouten represented the Netherlands in roller speed skating at the European championships in 2015 and 2016, and has also competed in speed skating at the Dutch national championships. (nbcolympics.com, 15 Feb 2022; schaatsen.nl, 24 Oct 2019; SportsDeskOnline, 19 Nov 2018; nu.nl, 18 Jan 2017)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Name of coachJillert Anema [club], NED; Arjan Samplonius [club], NED  
General Interest
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto"Enjoy and work hard." (Athlete, 17 Nov 2018)  
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/irene.schouten.1  
twitter.com/schoutenirene  
General Interest
General Interest
InjuriesA muscle injury forced her to miss the 2020 Dutch National Allround Championships in Heerenveen. (nhnieuws.nl, 20 Nov 2020)

In 2008 her thyroid gland became infected and she was unable to compete for six months. (sporttop.nl, 2009)
 
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sportShe was previously involved in inline skating and figure skating. Her three siblings liked skating but only she and her brother Simon went on to pursue a professional career in the sport. "In primary school, there was a bus that always went to the track every Saturday. It was completely full. That is how we naturally acquired the love for skating."  
General Interest
General Interest
Most influential person in careerHer mother. (Athlete, 17 Nov 2018)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?She took up the sport in 2000.  
General Interest
General Interest
Awards and honoursShe was named the 2022 Sportswoman of the Year at the annual Sports Gala in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (nltimes.nl, 22 Dec 2022)

She was named Marathon Skater of the Year for the 2018/19 season by the Royal Dutch Skating Association [KNSB]. (binding.nl, 23 Oct 2019)
 
MilestonesShe became the first female speed skater representing the Netherlands to win a world title in the 5000m when she was victorious in the event at the 2021 World Single Distances Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands. (SportsDeskOnline, 12 Nov 2021; netherlandsnewslive.com, 14 Feb 2021)  
HobbiesWatching sports. (ditjesendatjes.nl, 28 Nov 2020)  
AmbitionsTo win gold at the 2024 World Single Distances Championships in Calgary, AB, Canada. She also aspires to work in sports marketing after her competitive career is over. (nos.nl, 16 Oct 2023; ditjesendatjes.nl, 28 Nov 2020)  
Other informationDIFFICULT YEAR POST-BEIJING
She admits that her life became too busy following her three Olympic gold medals in 2022, and that she tried to do too much ahead of the 2022/23 season. At the 2023 Dutch National Single Distances Championships, she was only able to finish third in the 3000m, a distance she was victorious in at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. "I've had quite an intense year [speaking in February 2023], I've had some difficulty with that in recent months. Once I realised I was struggling, I slowed down a bit. I probably just did a little too much of everything. Mentally, [2022] was a very tough year. So much has happened, I really wanted to tackle everything. Sometimes I forget that I am a top athlete and that I therefore have to train and rest. I forgot that a bit last year. Now I have that clearly in my head. I want to skate fast, so I also have to rest well. Last year [2022] I was in Colombia and I did all kinds of cultural things. [In 2023] I mainly trained and rested. I told my husband in advance that we were not going to do anything, it would be just a training camp [in the United States of America]." (nos.nl, 16 Oct 2023, 04 Feb 2023; schaatsen.nl, 21 Aug 2023)

DOCUMENTARY
In 2021 a documentary about her family 'Het Leven Gaat Niet Altijd Over Tulpen' [Life Is Not Always About Tulips] was aired on Dutch television. The documentary focuses on the family's tulip business, Irene and her brother Simon's skating careers, and their mother Jolanda's recovery from a brain haemorrhage in 2016. "I think the images are beautiful, but I don't think the story that is being told is special. I wondered, 'Why is something like this TV worthy?' Until my friend and brother-in-law said, 'This is not normal, you think it is normal, because you do it every day, but what you do for your mother is very unique'." (nu.nl, 25 Oct 2021; metronieuws.nl, 08 Jun 2021; visie.eo.nl, 07 Jun 2021)
 
Social Media
Social Media
www.ireneschouten.nl/  
General Interest
General Interest
Hero / IdolDutch speed skater Gretha Smit. (nbcolympics.com, 15 Feb 2022)  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2021/2022 World Allround Championships Allround1  
    2023/2024 European Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit1  
    2019/2020 European Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2023/2024 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit1  
    2020/2021 World Single Distances Championships 5000m1  
    2021/2022 European Single Distances Championships Mass Start1  
    2022 Olympic Games Mass Start1  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2021/2022 European Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit1  
    2020/2021 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 6 Laps1  
    2021/2022 World Allround Championships 3000m1  
    2021/2022 European Single Distances Championships 3000m1  
    2022 Olympic Games 5000m1  
    2022/2023 World Single Distances Championships 5000m1  
    2023/2024 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start1  
    2023/2024 World Single Distances Championships 3000m1  
    2022 Olympic Games 3000m1  
    2023/2024 European Single Distances Championships Mass Start2  
    2020/2021 European Allround Championships Allround2  
    2021/2022 World Allround Championships 5000m2  
    2023/2024 World Single Distances Championships 5000m2  
    2022/2023 World Single Distances Championships 3000m2  
    2023/2024 European Single Distances Championships 3000m2  
    2020/2021 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps3  
    2022 Olympic Games Team Pursuit3  
    2022/2023 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start3  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps3  
    2018 Olympic Games Mass Start 16 Laps3  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships 5000m3  
    2020/2021 World Single Distances Championships 3000m3  
    2013/2014 World Allround Championships Allround6  
    2019/2020 European Single Distances Championships 3000m7  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships 3000m7  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships 5000m7  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps10  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps22  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 3000m1  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m1  
    2015/2016 Inzell Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2020/2021 Heerenveen Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2022/2023 Calgary, AB Mass Start1  
    2014/2015 Berlin Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2022/2023 Heerenveen Mass Start1  
    2015/2016 Salt Lake City, UT Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2021/2022 Heerenveen Mass Start1  
    2023/2024 Tomaszów Mazowiecki Mass Start1  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2021/2022 Stavanger 5000m1  
    2022/2023 Calgary, AB 5000m1  
    2016/2017 Stavanger Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2012/2013 Heerenveen Mass Start 15 Laps1  
    2023/2024 Quebec, QC 3000m1  
    2021/2022 Heerenveen 3000m1  
    2022/2023 Heerenveen 3000m1  
    2020/2021 Heerenveen 3000m1  
    2021/2022 Tomaszów Mazowiecki 3000m1  
    2021/2022 Salt Lake City, UT 3000m1  
    2023/2024 Stavanger Mass Start1  
    2021/2022 Tomaszów Mazowiecki Mass Start1  
    2020/2021 Heerenveen Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2022/2023 Calgary, AB Mass Start1  
    2019/2020 Tomaszów Mazowiecki Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2014/2015 Hamar Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps2  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps2  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps2  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification Mass Start 15 Laps2  
    2015/2016 Calgary, AB Mass Start 16 Laps2  
    2013/2014 Heerenveen Mass Start 15 Laps2  
    2014/2015 Seoul Mass Start 16 Laps2  
    2023/2024 Salt Lake City, UT Mass Start2  
    2021/2022 Salt Lake City, UT Team Pursuit2  
    2022/2023 Stavanger Team Pursuit2  
    2023/2024 Salt Lake City, UT 3000m2  
    2020/2021 Heerenveen Team Pursuit 6 Laps2  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen Team Pursuit 6 Laps2  
    2018/2019 Heerenveen Mass Start 16 Laps2  
    2015/2016 Calgary, AB 3000m2  
    2018/2019 Obihiro Mass Start 16 Laps2  
    2022/2023 Stavanger 3000m2  
    2016/2017 Heerenveen Mass Start 16 Laps2  
    2019/2020 Minsk Mass Start 16 Laps2  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification Mass Start3  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m3  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification Mass Start3  
    2014/2015 Heerenveen Mass Start 16 Laps3  
    2022/2023 Stavanger Mass Start3  
    2014/2015 Obihiro Mass Start 16 Laps3  
    2013/2014 Inzell Mass Start 15 Laps3  
    2019/2020 Heerenveen Mass Start 16 Laps3  
    2023/2024 Tomaszów Mazowiecki 3000m3  
    2021/2022 Tomaszów Mazowiecki Team Pursuit3  
    2015/2016 Stavanger 3000m3  
    2020/2021 Heerenveen 3000m3  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification Overall4  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps4  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification Mass Start 15 Laps4  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification Mass Start5  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m5  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m7  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m8  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 1500m10  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification Overall11  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification Overall13  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps16  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 1500m17  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification Overall18  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m20  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification Overall21  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification Overall24  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m39  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification 1500m45  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m49