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Melissa Wijfje

Netherlands

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSNED22107199501
NOCNetherlands
Born21 Jul 1995 in  Ter Aar
GenderWomen
OccupationAthlete
LanguagesDutch, English
Higher educationCommerce, Economics - Johan Cruyff Academy: Groningen, NED
FamilyPartner Marcel Bosker
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 38.83 01 Feb 2020 Calgary  
    1000m 1:15.05 28 Dec 2020 Heerenveen  
    1500m 1:51.78 16 Feb 2020 Salt Lake City, UT  
    5000m 6:58.80 04 Nov 2018 Heerenveen  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
World Junior Championships
Event  
World Junior Championships
    1000m   1    
    1500m 2      
    3000m 1 1    
    Mass Start 10 Laps     1  
    Team Pursuit 2      
    Allround 1 1    
World Single Distances Championships
Event  
World Single Distances Championships
    Team Pursuit 6 Laps   1    
European Single Distances Championships
Event  
European Single Distances Championships
    Mass Start 16 Laps     1  
    Team Pursuit 2      
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Club / TeamTeam Zaanlander : Netherlands  
General Interest
General Interest
Famous relativesHer partner Marcel Bosker has represented the Netherlands in speed skating, winning gold in team pursuit at the world single distances championships in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023. Her younger brother Tom has competed in speed skating at elite junior level. (SportsDeskOnline, 12 Mar 2024; Instagram profile, 31 Oct 2021; schaatsacademiehaarlem.nl, 07 Mar 2014)  
Awards and honoursIn 2020 she was inducted into the Walk of Fame at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen, Netherlands. (cruyffacademy.nl, 28 Sep 2020)

In 2013 and 2017 she was named Female Athlete of the Year in Nieuwkoop, Netherlands. (nieuwkoop.rtvlokaal.nl, 11 Mar 2017; nieuwsregio.nl, 08 Mar 2014)
 
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Name of coachJillert Anema [club], NED; Rintje Ritsma [national], NED  
When and where did you begin this sport?She began speed skating at age five in Leiden, Netherlands.  
General Interest
General Interest
Other informationBEIJING RESERVE
She missed out on a spot on the Dutch team for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, but travelled to Beijing as a reserve. At the Dutch Olympic qualifying tournament, she had finished 0.02s off third place in the women's 1500m, with the top three skaters qualifying. "In the end I was able to be a reserve and experience the Olympic Games in Beijing up close. I skated on the Olympic ice and saw my teammate Irene Schouten win three gold medals. Still, I stood there with mixed feelings on the sidelines. I want to be there myself in four years [at the 2026 Games in Milan-Cortina] and compete for medals." (hanzemag.nl, 07 Feb 2022; melissawijfje.com, 01 Mar 2022)
 
Social Media
Social Media
melissawijfje.wix.com/melissawijfje  
www.facebook.com/WijfjeMelissa  
twitter.com/MelissaWijfje  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sportHer parents wanted her to learn how to skate and she enjoyed skating on the natural ice in her garden. "My parents live in Korteraar on the water, this is the reason we had to learn to skate. When the winters were harsh we could enjoy ourselves on the ice."  
General Interest
General Interest
Most influential person in careerDutch speed skater [and her partner] Marcel Bosker. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)  
Sporting philosophy / motto"Go hard or go home." (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)  
Other sportsShe has competed in road cycling races, including the 2018 Tour of Uppsala in Sweden. (procyclingstats.com, 29 Jun 2019)  
AmbitionsTo compete at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. (hanzemag.nl, 07 Feb 2022; melissawijfje.com, 01 Mar 2022)  
InjuriesShe sustained an injury to her lower left leg during the 2021/22 season. The same problem troubled her in the following season. She underwent surgery in early 2023. (hanze.nl, 10 Jan 2024; nos.nl, 28 Dec 2023; schaatsen.nl, 01 Mar 2023; Instagram profile, 28 Dec 2022)

In 2014 she was diagnosed with Graves' disease, a condition that affects the thyroid. She was not able to train for a period and lost weight. (schaatsen.nl, 18 Oct 2014)
 
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2019/2020 European Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 6 Laps1  
    2017/2018 European Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 6 Laps1  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 6 Laps2  
    2019/2020 European Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps3  
    2019/2020 European Single Distances Championships 1500m4  
    2019/2020 World Allround Championships Allround5  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships 1500m5  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships 1500m6  
    2020/2021 World Single Distances Championships 1500m9  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps10  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps11  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2019/2020 Heerenveen Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2016/2017 Stavanger Team Pursuit 6 Laps2  
    2017/2018 Salt Lake City, UT Team Pursuit 6 Laps2  
    2020/2021 Heerenveen Team Pursuit 6 Laps2  
    2021/2022 Salt Lake City, UT Team Pursuit2  
    2019/2020 Tomaszów Mazowiecki Team Pursuit 6 Laps2  
    2019/2020 Nur-Sultan Team Pursuit 6 Laps2  
    2016/2017 Stavanger 3000m3  
    2016/2017 Heerenveen 5000m3  
    2023/2024 Quebec, QC 1500m3  
    2019/2020 Heerenveen 1500m3  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m4  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 1500m4  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps5  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1500m6  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m7  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps8  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1500m8  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 1500m11  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m11  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 1500m12  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 3000m13  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m19  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps19  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps21  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification Overall21  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1500m24  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1500m30