Johannes Nicolaas Maria ("Jeroen") Straathof (born 18 November 1972) is a retired Dutch racing cyclist and speed skater. Straathof was the first, and still the only, athlete in the world to represent his country at the Summer Olympics, the Winter Olympics and the Paralympics.

Life

Straathof started his sports career as a speed skater, becoming World Junior Champion in Warsaw 1992. His best distance was the 1500 metres, and as the longest distances were his worst he only participated in one international all-round championship in his career. He made his Olympic debut at the 1994 Winter Olympics held in Lillehammer. He was qualified for the 1500 metres and placed 9th. In 1996 the World Single Distance Championships were introduced, and Straathof became the first World Champion over 1500 metres. He was never able to equal this performance or come close to winning another medal, and he made a switch to track cycling.

As pilot at the tandem he teamed up with visually handicapped cyclist Jan Mulder. In 1998 they took part in the World Championships and won the silver medal. At the 1999 European Championships they won the gold, and a year later they were acclaimed 2000 Summer Paralympics champions.

Straathof decided to make another switch, and became part of the Dutch Team Pursuit team that qualified for the 2002 World Championships, where they placed seventh. A year later they placed 9th, and in 2004 they improved their ranking to the fourth position. The team, composed of Straathof, Jens Mouris, Peter Schep and Levi Heimans, also qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics where they came in fifth. After those Olympics Straathof ended his professional sports career.

Finally, Straathof is one of the few athletes who have competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympic games.

Private life

Straathof is the brother of former speed skater Judith Straathof. He is married to wheelchair basketball player Evelyn van Leeuwen and they have four children.

Speed skating

Personal records

Personal records
EventResultDateLocationNotes
Men's Speed skating
500 m36.2619 March 2000Calgary
1000 m1:10.7618 March 2000Calgary
1500 m1:47.7619 February 1999Calgary
3000 m3:51.8715 August 1998Calgary
5000 m6:53.824 December 1994Heerenveen
10000 m14:48.8029 December 1993Heerenveen

Tournament overview

SeasonDutch Championships AllroundDutch Championships Single DistancesDutch Championships SprintOlympic GamesWorld Championships Single DistancesWorld Championships AllroundWorld Championships SprintWorld Championships Junior Allround
1990–1991THE HAGUE 14th 1500m
1991–1992ALKMAAR 6th 500m 14th 5000m 7th 1500m DNQ 10000m 13th overallHEERENVEEN 6th 1000m 5th 1500m 12th 5000mWARSAW 8th 500m 3000m 1500m 6th 5000m overall
1992–1993ASSEN 11th 500m 10th 5000m 4th 1500m 12th 10000m 10th overallDEVENTER 1500m 12th 5000m 13th 10000m
1993–1994HEERENVEEN 5th 1500m 11th 5000m 10th 10000mLILLEHAMMER 9th 1500m
1994–1995ASSEN 7th 500m 5th 5000m 1500m 7th 10000m 6th overallTHE HAGUE 1500m 7th 5000m 12th 10000mBASELGA di PINÈ 16th 500m 16th 5000m 6th 1500m DNQ 10000m 13th overall
1995–1996THE HAGUE 4th 500m 7th 5000m 1500m 9th 10000m 6th overallGRONINGEN 1500mHAMAR 1500m
1996–1997ASSEN 5th 500m 9th 5000m 1500m DNQ 10000m 13th overallWARSAW 5th 1500m
1997–1998HEERENVEEN 6th 1000m 6th 1500mGRONINGEN 14th 500m 6th 1000m 20th 500m 5th 1000m 20th overallCALGARY 7th 1500m
1998–1999GRONINGEN 17th 500m 5th 1000m 1500mGRONINGEN 6th 500m 6th 1000m 20th 500m 20th 1000m 19th overall
1999–2000DEVENTER 7th 500m 20th 1000m 1500m
2000–2001THE HAGUE 500m 1000m 5th 1500mHEERENVEEN 4th 500m 1000m 4th 500m 1000m overallSALT LAKE CITY 15th 1500mINZELL 35th 500m 41st 1000m 33rd 500m 21st 1000m 38th overall
2001–2002GRONINGEN 9th 500m 11th 1000m 16th 1500m
  • DNQ = Did not qualify for the last event

Source:

Cycling

Results

Track cycling (pilot at the tandem), 4 km pursuit

  • World championships 1998: Silver medal
  • European championships 1999: European champion
  • Paralympic game Sydney 2000: Paralympic champion

Track Cycling, 4 km team pursuit

  • World championships 2002: 7th
  • World championships 2003: 9th
  • World championships 2004: 4th
  • Olympic games Athene 2004: 5th