Kjeld
Nuis
Netherlands
·
Speed Skating
Date of birth | 10 November 1989 |
|---|---|
Place of birth | Leiden |
Age | 36 |
Nationality | Netherlands |
Career start | 2009 |
Disciplines | Speed Skating |
Kjeld Nuis is always up for a challenge, never letting one get the better of him. "I'm a thrill seeker”, he says, "and what's dangerous is beautiful."
Kjeld began skating on a course in Leiden in The Netherlands at the age of seven, progressing at a markedly fast pace. The transition from junior to pro was quick and seamless; before he knew it, Kjeld had landed a place on Jac Orie's team, Brand Loyalty.
On the team, Kjeld's skills continued to flourish, thanks in part to the tutelage he received from his team-mates. "I try to learn as much as possible," he explains.
Such training has obviously paid off as, just in the early few years of his career, he had already achieved some impressive results. Kjeld took home domestic and World Championships medals, including silver and bronze medals in the World Championships at home in Heerenveen, Netherlands in the 1,000m. He backed that up with an even more impressive performance in the 2017 World Championships in Gangneung, South Korea by winning gold in both the 1,000m and 1,500m events. He's also the Dutch record holder at those distances.
South Korea again proved a happy hunting ground in 2018, when Kjeld returned home from Pyeongchang with double golds in the 1,000m and 1,500m. That year also saw him score first-places finishes at the ISU Sprint World Championships in Changchun, China, along with some impressive World Cup results everywhere from Japan and Sweden to The Netherlands. Kjeld topped off his magnificent 2018 by breaking the speed skate record in Luleå, Sweden, with a speed of 93kph.
In the following years, Kjeld has proven time and time again that he remains a force to be reckoned with over 1,000m and 1,500m, earning a string of big ISU World Cup results and impressing at the European Speed Skating Championships. He's also added to his gold medal haul, claiming victory in the 1,500m at the Games in China.
Kjeld then followed up his Beijing heroics with another incredible feat, shattering his own speed world record by 10kph after breaking through the 100kph barrier with a 103kph mark in Tynset, Norway.
Dutch speed skating legend Kjeld Nuis fuels up
© Rutger Pauw/Red Bull Content Pool
Nuis shows off his speed record tattoo
© Rutger Pauw/Red Bull Content Pool
Kjeld chasing the fastest speed ever on skates
© Jarno Schurgers/Red Bull Content Pool
Officially the fastest man on skates!
© Daniel Tengs/Red Bull Content Pool