Irene Schouten

www.facebook.com/irene.schouten.1
twitter.com/schoutenirene

Reason for choosing this sport	She was previously involved in inline skating and figure skating. Her three siblings liked skating but only she and her brother Simon went on to pursue a professional career in the sport. "In primary school, there was a bus that always went to the track every Saturday. It was completely full. That is how we naturally acquired the love for skating."
When and where did you begin this sport?	She took up the sport in 2000.
Club / Team	Team Zaanlander: Netherlands
Name of coach	Jillert Anema [club], NED

Memorable sporting achievement	Winning gold in the 3000m at the 2020 Dutch National Distance Championships in Heerenveen. (schaatsen.nl, 31 Oct 2020)
Other sports	She competes in marathon skating, and won five consecutive Dutch national titles between 2016 and 2020. She has represented the Netherlands in roller speed skating, winning a gold medal in the road 5000m relay at the 2012 World Championships in Rome, Italy, and has also competed as a cyclist at the Dutch national championships. In 2019 she won the first edition of the Dutch Red Bull 400 event, in which competitors race up a ski jump. The contest took place in Einsiedeln, Switzerland. (SportsDeskOnline, 09 Jan 2020; redbull.com, 18 Jun 2019; ad.nl, 14 Jun 2018; nos.nl, 15 Sep 2012)
Famous relatives	Her brother Simon Schouten has represented the Netherlands in speed skating, winning gold in team pursuit at the 2018 European Single Distances Championships in Kolomna, Russian Federation. She is also related to Kelly Schouten, who represented the Netherlands in roller speed skating at the European championships in 2015 and 2016, and has also competed in speed skating at the Dutch national championships. (schaatsen.nl, 24 Oct 2019; SportsDeskOnline, 19 Nov 2018; nu.nl, 18 Jan 2017)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"Enjoy and work hard." (Athlete, 17 Nov 2018)
Injuries	A muscle injury forced her to miss the 2020 Dutch National Allround Championships in Heerenveen. (nhnieuws.nl, 20 Nov 2020) In 2008 her thyroid gland became infected and she was unable to compete for six months. (sporttop.nl, 2009)
Awards and honours	She was named Marathon Skater of the Year for the 2018/19 season by the Royal Dutch Skating Association [KNSB]. (binding.nl, 23 Oct 2019)
Milestones	In January 2013 she won the inaugural women's mass start event at the Dutch championships. (nusport.nl, 02 Jan 2014)
Most influential person in career	Her mother. (Athlete, 17 Nov 2018)
Hobbies	Watching sports. (ditjesendatjes.nl, 28 Nov 2020)
Ambitions	To compete at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, and to work in sports marketing at the end of her skating career. (Instagram profile, 15 Dec 2020; ditjesendatjes.nl, 28 Nov 2020)