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Kai Verbij

Netherlands

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSNED12509199401
NOCNetherlands
Born25 Sep 1994 in  Leiderdorp
GenderMen
ResidenceHeerenveen, NED
LanguagesDutch, English, German, Japanese
OccupationAthlete
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 34.13 09 Dec 2017 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1000m 1:06.34 09 Mar 2019 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1500m 1:45.41 22 Mar 2015 Calgary  
    5000m 6:56.25 18 Dec 2011 Inzell  
    5000m 6:56.25 18 Dec 2011 Inzell  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
World Junior Championships
Event  
World Junior Championships
    2 x 500m 1      
    1000m 1 1    
    1500m   1    
    Team Pursuit 8 Laps     1  
World Single Distances Championships
Event  
World Single Distances Championships
    1000m 2   1  
    Team Sprint 2      
World Sprint Championships
Event  
World Sprint Championships
    Team Sprint     1  
    Overall 1 1 2  
European Single Distances Championships
Event  
European Single Distances Championships
    1000m     2  
    Team Sprint 1      
European Sprint Championships
Event  
European Sprint Championships
    Overall 2      
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Club / TeamTeam Jumbo-Visma: Netherlands  
General Interest
General Interest
HobbiesMaking music, playing the piano, films, computers. (Instagram profile, 01 Nov 2021; schaatsen.nl, 09 Feb 2020)  
Other sportsHe has competed in short track at national level in the Netherlands. (shorttrackonline.info, 2011)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Name of coachJac Orie [club], NED; Rintje Ritsma [national], NED  
General Interest
General Interest
Other informationSPORTSMANSHIP
During the 1000m final at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, he gave way to Canadian skater Laurent Dubreuil on the final crossover straight to avoid the risk of a collision. As a result, Verbij finished last in the race while Dubreuil won silver. In recognition of his sportsmanship, Verbij won the Visa Award for the most inspiring moment of the Games. The award allowed him to select a charity to receive 50,000 USD, and he chose UNICEF Netherlands. "After the second inner, I didn't feel I had enough speed to go before him in the lane change. So I had to quit. Otherwise, I would've been disqualified and probably messed up his race. You always question if you made the right decision in that split second, but at the same time, I'm really proud that people from around the world voted for this award, acknowledging my decision. It has made me feel like I made the right choice." (olympics.com, 21 Jun 2022; schaatsen.nl, 21 Jun 2022; rtlnieuws.nl, 18 Feb 2022; cbc.ca, 18 Feb 2022)

JUMBO MOVE
In 2020 he switched from Team Reggeborgh to Team Jumbo-Visma. A space opened up at Jumbo-Visma when his Dutch national teammate Kjeld Nuis moved in the opposite direction. "I knew if I didn't do it now, I would regret it. There was never a place at Jumbo-Visma. Kjeld's unexpected switch to Reggeborgh suddenly opened a door. I wanted to throw myself to the lions, instead of staying in the same environment any longer." In January 2022 he signed a new two-year contract with Team Jumbo-Visma to run until 2024. (teamjumbovisma.com, 28 Jan 2022; parool.nl, 28 May 2020)

HERITAGE
He has a Dutch father and a Japanese mother. He decided to compete for the Netherlands due to the country's history in speed skating and the fact that his ability to speak Japanese was limited. "The teams and the people I train with in the Netherlands are better. Things are going very well with Japanese skating and there is a lot of money there, but the best skaters for me are in the Netherlands. It is much nicer if you can compete with them. My teammates are strong and I have a good rapport with them. I do speak some Japanese but I cannot have in-depth conversations and I do not know if I would be very happy if I could not say what I want.'' (destentor.nl, 22 May 2021; nporadio1.nl, 13 Sep 2018; Facebook profile, 30 Aug 2014)

MUSIC CAREER
In 2019 he signed a contract with a record label in the Netherlands. He had begun producing songs with one of his childhood friends in 2016. "He is one of the greatest men in the world, but I don't know if he wants to be named in this [project], and if something comes out we don't want people to think we are piggybacking each other [due to Verbij's prominence]. We want to be judged by our music." (sportnieuws.nl, 14 Nov 2019, 17 Aug 2019; ad.nl, 17 Aug 2019; pzc.nl, 17 Aug 2019)
 
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/kai.verbij  
twitter.com/kaiverbij  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sportHis parents introduced him to the sport.  
General Interest
General Interest
Most influential person in careerHis mother, and US speed skater Shani Davis. (Athlete, 13 Nov 2017, 02 Dec 2015)  
Hero / IdolJapanese footballer Keisuke Honda, Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi. (Athlete, 24 Feb 2016, 02 Dec 2015)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?He began skating at age six in Leiden, Netherlands.  
General Interest
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto"Little work, big achievements." (Athlete, 13 Nov 2017)  
InjuriesIn early 2023 he suffered a groin injury, which kept him out for the remainder of the 2022/23 season. He also sustained a groin injury in October 2022. (teamjumbovisma.com, 02 Feb 2023; nu.nl, 28 Oct 2022)

In 2022 he was affected by appendicitis. (schaatsen.nl, 16 Sep 2023)

In May 2020 he required surgery after breaking his left collarbone while cycling in Friesland, Netherlands. (teamjumbovisma.com, 29 May 2020)

He sustained a muscle injury on his way to finishing second in the 500m at the Dutch Olympic trials in December 2017. The injury forced him out of the 1000m at the trials, and put his Olympic participation in doubt. He was still able to compete at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (nporadio1.nl, 13 Sep 2018; omroepwest.nl, 28 Dec 2017)
 
Awards and honoursHe won the Visa Award for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. The award was voted on by members of the public, who selected his sportsmanship during the men's 1000m final as the most inspiring moment of the Games. (olympics.com, 21 Jun 2022)

In March 2019 he was the male recipient of the Ard Schenk Award, which is presented to the speed skater of the year in the Netherlands. (schaatsen.nl, 23 May 2019)
 
AmbitionsTo win a medal at the Olympic Winter Games. (schaatsen.nl, 01 Oct 2021)  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2021/2022 European Single Distances Championships Team Sprint1  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships Team Sprint1  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships Team Sprint1  
    2018/2019 European Sprint Championships Overall1  
    2016/2017 World Sprint Championships Overall1  
    2020/2021 World Single Distances Championships 1000m1  
    2016/2017 European Sprint Championships Overall1  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships 1000m1  
    2021/2022 World Sprint Championships Overall2  
    2021/2022 World Sprint Championships Team Sprint3  
    2021/2022 European Single Distances Championships 1000m3  
    2019/2020 European Single Distances Championships 1000m3  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships 1000m3  
    2017/2018 World Sprint Championships Overall3  
    2015/2016 World Sprint Championships Overall3  
    2022/2023 European Sprint Championships Overall4  
    2020/2021 World Single Distances Championships 500m4  
    2019/2020 World Sprint Championships Overall4  
    2021/2022 European Single Distances Championships 500m4  
    2018/2019 World Sprint Championships Overall5  
    2019/2020 European Single Distances Championships 500m6  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships 1000m6  
    2018 Olympic Games 1000m6  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships 1000m7  
    2018 Olympic Games 500m9  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships 500m10  
    2022 Olympic Games 500m14  
    2020/2021 European Sprint Championships Overall18  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m23  
    2022 Olympic Games 1000m30  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 1000m1  
    2016/2017 Berlin Qualification Combination Sprint1  
    2016/2017 Stavanger Team Sprint1  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen Team Sprint1  
    2018/2019 Obihiro Team Sprint1  
    2015/2016 Calgary, AB Team Sprint1  
    2019/2020 Nur-Sultan Team Sprint1  
    2019/2020 Minsk Team Sprint1  
    2018/2019 Hamar 1000m1  
    2017/2018 Calgary, AB 1000m1  
    2016/2017 Berlin 1000m1  
    2020/2021 Heerenveen 1000m1  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 1000m2  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1000m2  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen 1000m2  
    2022/2023 Calgary, AB Team Sprint2  
    2018/2019 Tomaszów Mazowiecki Team Sprint2  
    2017/2018 Minsk 1000m2  
    2018/2019 Tomakomai Team Sprint2  
    2021/2022 Stavanger 1000m2  
    2018/2019 Tomaszów Mazowiecki 1000m2  
    2016/2017 Nagano 1000m2  
    2019/2020 Nagano 1000m2  
    2016/2017 Berlin 1000m2  
    2017/2018 Salt Lake City, UT 500m2  
    2017/2018 Stavanger 1000m2  
    2020/2021 Heerenveen 1000m2  
    2017/2018 Heerenveen 1000m2  
    2018/2019 Tomakomai 1000m2  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification Overall3  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1000m3  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1000m3  
    2017/2018 Calgary, AB Team Sprint3  
    2016/2017 Harbin 500m3  
    2019/2020 Heerenveen 1000m3  
    2016/2017 Stavanger 500m3  
    2015/2016 Inzell 500m3  
    2015/2016 Salt Lake City, UT Team Sprint3  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m3  
    2016/2017 Berlin 500m3  
    2015/2016 Inzell 1000m3  
    2015/2016 Stavanger 500m3  
    2019/2020 Nur-Sultan 1000m3  
    2017/2018 Heerenveen 500m3  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification Overall4  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 500m4  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1000m4  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 1000m5  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 500m7  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 500m7  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification Overall10  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 500m12  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1000m13  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 500m13  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 500m17  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 500m25  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 500m31  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 1000m33  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1500m34  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 500m41  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification Overall40  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification 1000m41  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification 500m47