Melle van 't Wout

Netherlands

Social Media

www.facebook.com/Melle-Van-t-Wout-577621665996443
twitter.com/vantwoutjes

Sport Specific Information

Reason for choosing this sport	His parents did not want him to go further with ice hockey because he had sustained too many injuries. Coach Wilma Boomstra from Sint Jacobiparochie, Netherlands, then invited him and his younger brother Jens to compete in short track. "It didn't go so well. We applied ice hockey techniques to short track skating and had to get used to it. I don't know how, but she saw talent in us."
Name of coach	Niels Kerstholt [national], NED
When and where did you begin this sport?	He began playing ice hockey in 2005 with the Bracebridge Bears club in Ontario, Canada, and got involved in short track at Barrie Speed Skating Club eight years later. He decided to pursue the sport at age 14 after moving back to the Netherlands.
Club / Team	Trias Shorttrack: Netherlands

General Interest

Famous relatives	His younger brother Jens has represented the Netherlands in short track, including at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. (SportsDeskOnline, 31 Oct 2022; nos.nl, 11 Feb 2022; teamnl.org, 23 Nov 2021)
Other information	EARLY DAYS He moved to Canada at a young age and played ice hockey for eight years while he was at school there. However, his parents insisted he quit the sport after he sustained a number of injuries. "I thought ice hockey was a great sport with lots of action and you have to think carefully. It was also a fierce sport with many risks. When I was age 14, for example, I suffered a concussion during a competition. At first I thought that [being told to give up ice hockey] was a shame. I was disappointed and I missed my teammates. Ice hockey is a team sport and within such a team you do everything for each other. We really stood up for each other." (volkskrant.nl, 03 Jan 2021; vantwoutjes.nl, 01 Dec 2019; schaatsen.nl, 03 Jan 2019)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"Go big or go home." (Facebook profile, 01 Oct 2020)
Injuries	In December 2021 he sustained a back injury. (Instagram profile, 19 Jan 2022; schaatsen.nl, 31 Dec 2021)

Championships results	Year	Competition	Event	Rank
Championships results
	2022/2023	European Championships	2000m Relay	1
	2022/2023	European Championships	5000m Relay	1
	2018/2019	World Junior Championships	3000m Relay	2
	2022/2023	European Championships	500m	8
	2022/2023	European Championships	1000m	17
	2018/2019	World Junior Championships	500m	24
	2018/2019	World Junior Championships	1000m	46

World Cups	Year	Competition	Event	Rank
World Cups
	2022/2023	Dresden	2000m Relay	3
	2019/2020	Dresden	500m	3
	2019/2020	Dresden	5000m Relay	3
	2019/2020	Shanghai	5000m Relay	4
	2022/2023	Dresden	5000m Relay	7
	2018/2019	Dresden	5000m Relay	8
	2022/2023	Salt Lake City, UT	500m	10
	2022/2023	Dresden	500m	10
	2022/2023	Salt Lake City, UT	500m	12
	2019/2020	Shanghai	500m	12
	2018/2019	Dresden	500m	13
	2019/2020	World Cup	500m	18
	2019/2020	Shanghai	500m	21
	2022/2023	Dresden	1500m	22
	2019/2020	Dresden	1000m	23
	2021/2022	World Cup	500m	25
	2018/2019	Dresden	1500m	42
	2018/2019	World Cup	500m	46
	2018/2019	World Cup	1000m	70
	2019/2020	World Cup	1000m	77
	2019/2020	World Cup	1500m	102
	2018/2019	World Cup	1500m	109