Print the Biography/Short

Felix Rijhnen

Germany

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSGER10907199001
NOCGermany
Born09 Jul 1990 in  Darmstadt
GenderMen
ResidenceDarmstadt, GER
OccupationPolice Athlete
LanguagesEnglish, French, German
FamilyWife Katharina, one son [2023]
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 37.81 15 Mar 2012 Calgary  
    1000m 1:13.65 17 Mar 2012 Calgary  
    1500m 1:48.49 18 Mar 2012 Calgary  
    5000m 6:12.11 10 Dec 2021 Calgary  
    10000m 13:17.01 17 Dec 2022 Calgary  
General Interest
General Interest
Other sportsHe also represents Germany in roller speed skating, and won gold in the road marathon event at the 2018 World Championships in Arnhem, Netherlands. (bmw-berlin-marathon.com, 30 Aug 2018; SportsDeskOnline, 24 Sep 2018)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sportHe was unable to go roller speed skating on the streets during winter, so he thought he would try speed skating on ice.  
General Interest
General Interest
Hero / IdolUS speed skater Chad Hedrick. (desg.de, 12 Aug 2014)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?He began roller speed skating in 1996, and took up speed skating on ice in 2009.  
General Interest
General Interest
NicknamesBig Feli (online-skating.com, 03 May 2012)  
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/FelixRijhnen  
twitter.com/FelixRijhnen  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Club / TeamOEC Frankfurt: Germany  
General Interest
General Interest
Famous relativesHis wife Katharina Rumpus has competed in roller speed skating. She competed in six editions of the world championships between 2013 and 2019. (echo-online.de, 30 Jun 2022; faz.net, 05 Feb 2022; bigwheelblading.com, 15 Sep 2018; SportsDeskOnline, 12 Oct 2023)  
AmbitionsTo compete at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. (Sportstiftung Hessen Facebook page, 20 Oct 2022)  
Sporting philosophy / motto"All or nothing." (Deutsche Eisschnelllauf und Shorttrack-Gemeinschaft Facebook page, 13 Nov 2022)  
Memorable sporting achievementCompeting at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. (sportschau.de, 14 Nov 2022)  
Awards and honoursHe was named Athlete of the Year for 2022 by the Hesse State Police in Germany. (Instagram profile, 31 Mar 2023)  
Other informationBREAK AND RETURN TO THE ICE
In 2015 he decided to end his speed skating career on ice and focus solely on roller speed skating after a disagreement with the German Speed Skating and Short Track Association [DESG]. "They didn't like the fact that I did my own thing in the summer and was into skates. They said if you want to be supported and encouraged, then you have to stop skating. It took a long time for the association to become aware of the fact that athletes careers can be extended by a few years if they have a second source of income. You won't get rich with both sports, but you at least you can earn a living. Inline skating [roller speed skating] is the sport that I am passionate about. The sport made me strong and the athlete I am today." In 2021 he was persuaded to return to the ice by DESG president Matthias Grosse with a view to competing at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. "He called me in January 2021 and said he would like to see me on the ice. He asked me what I needed to get to the Olympics. I wasn't done with it yet and was keen to try the whole thing again." (sportschau.de, 14 Nov 2022)
 
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2021/2022 European Single Distances Championships 5000m11  
    2022/2023 World Single Distances Championships 5000m11  
    2022 Olympic Games 5000m13  
    2022/2023 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start19  
    2021/2022 European Single Distances Championships Mass Start19  
    2022 Olympic Games Mass Start27  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2022/2023 Stavanger Mass Start1  
    2021/2022 Calgary, AB Mass Start3  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification Mass Start9  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification Mass Start 20 Laps9  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification Mass Start16  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m17  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m24  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m39