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Lara van Ruijven

Netherlands

SportShort Track
FederationIDSTNED22812199201
NOCNetherlands
Born28 Dec 1992 in Naaldwijk 
GenderWomen
Higher educationLaw - Open University VWO at the Talent Academy North: Netherlands
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 42.453 03 Nov 2019 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1000m 1:28.006 10 Nov 2018 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1500m 2:23.588 17 Mar 2018 Montreal  
    3000m 5:14.025 04 Jan 2015 Amsterdam  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
Olympic Games
Event  
Olympic Games
    3000m Relay     1  
World Championships
Event  
World Championships
    500m 1      
    3000m Relay   1    
European Championships
Event  
European Championships
    500m     1  
    1000m   1    
    3000m Relay 5 1 1  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?She first tried short track at age six in The Hague, Netherlands.  
Social Media
Social Media
laravanruijven.wordpress.com/  
www.facebook.com/laravanruijven92/  
twitter.com/LaravanRuijven  
General Interest
General Interest
InjuriesIn September 2017 she suffered a dislocated shoulder. (schaatsen.nl, 11 Sep 2017)

She had knee problems during 2014 that forced her to alter her training schedule. (schaatsen.nl, 12 Nov 2014)		  
Memorable sporting achievementWinning bronze in the 3000m relay at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2018)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sportShe had already tried speed skating and was encouraged to try short track by her friend Adwin Snellink.  
General Interest
General Interest
Most influential person in careerCoach Jeroen Otter. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2018)  
Sporting philosophy / motto"Everything will fall into place. You have just got to be patient and enjoy and trust the process." (Athlete, 16 Nov 2018)  
Other informationPASSED AWAY
In July 2020 she passed away in Perpignan, France, at age 27. She had previously been in intensive care for around 10 days due to complications relating to an autoimmune disorder which led to internal bleeding on the brain. "Her loss will be felt through the whole sporting world," said Netherlands national coach Jeroen Otter. "The International Skating Union [ISU] is very saddened by the news of Lara's passing. She had a bright future ahead of her and the entire skating community is in shock and mourning this terrible loss," said ISU President Jan Dijkema. (schaatsen.nl, 10 Jul 2020)

UNEXPECTED OLYMPIC MEDAL
She was a member of the Dutch women's 3000m relay team that won a bronze medal at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang despite not qualifying for the A final. Two out of four teams in the A final were disqualified, meaning the Dutch team - who won the B final in world record time - were awarded the bronze medal. (deadspin.com, 21 Feb 2018; bbc.com, 20 Feb 2018)		  
NicknamesLaar (Athlete, 16 Nov 2018)  
MilestonesShe became the first female short track skater representing the Netherlands to win a world title in the 500m when she claimed gold at the 2019 World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. (SportsDeskOnline, 20 Mar 2019; isu.org, 09 Mar 2019)  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2015/2016 European Championships 3000m Relay1  
    2018/2019 European Championships 3000m Relay1  
    2018/2019 World Championships 500m1  
    2013/2014 European Championships 3000m Relay1  
    2019/2020 European Championships 3000m Relay1  
    2012/2013 European Championships 3000m Relay1  
    2014/2015 European Championships 3000m Relay2  
    2019/2020 European Championships 1000m2  
    2017/2018 World Championships 3000m Relay2  
    2018 Olympic Games 3000m Relay3  
    2018/2019 European Championships 500m3  
    2016/2017 European Championships 3000m Relay3  
    2018/2019 World Championships Overall4  
    2016/2017 World Championships 3000m Relay4  
    2017/2018 European Championships 500m4  
    2019/2020 European Championships 500m4  
    2019/2020 European Championships Overall4  
    2018/2019 European Championships 1000m4  
    2015/2016 European Championships Overall4  
    2018/2019 World Championships 3000m Relay4  
    2013/2014 World Championships 3000m Relay5  
    2017/2018 European Championships 1000m5  
    2010/2011 World Junior Championships Overall6  
    2015/2016 World Championships 3000m Relay6  
    2017/2018 European Championships 3000m Relay6  
    2012/2013 World Championships 3000m Relay6  
    2018/2019 European Championships Overall7  
    2017/2018 European Championships Overall8  
    2014/2015 European Championships Overall8  
    2017/2018 European Championships 1500m9  
    2018/2019 European Championships 1500m10  
    2014/2015 World Championships 1000m12  
    2018 Olympic Games 1000m13  
    2017/2018 World Championships 1500m13  
    2017/2018 World Championships 500m13  
    2017/2018 World Championships Overall16  
    2014 Olympic Games 500m17  
    2014/2015 World Championships 500m17  
    2017/2018 World Championships 1000m19  
    2014/2015 World Championships Overall20  
    2011/2012 World Junior Championships Overall20  
    2018 Olympic Games 500m20  
    2009/2010 World Junior Championships Overall31  
    2014/2015 World Championships 1500m31  
    2019/2020 European Championships 1500m33  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2018/2019 Almaty 3000m Relay1  
    2018/2019 Turin 3000m Relay1  
    2017/2018 Seoul 3000m Relay1  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 500m1  
    2019/2020 Dordrecht 500m1  
    2016/2017 Dresden 3000m Relay1  
    2019/2020 Dresden 3000m Relay1  
    2019/2020 Shanghai 2000m Relay1  
    2019/2020 Dordrecht 3000m Relay1  
    2012/2013 Dresden 3000m Relay1  
    2015/2016 Toronto, ON 500m2  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 2000m Relay2  
    2018/2019 Dresden 3000m Relay2  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 2000m Relay2  
    2018/2019 Almaty 500m2  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 3000m Relay2  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 3000m Relay2  
    2016/2017 Gangneung 3000m Relay2  
    2018/2019 Dresden 500m2  
    2019/2020 Shanghai 3000m Relay2  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 500m3  
    2019/2020 Dresden 500m3  
    2019/2020 Salt Lake City, UT 500m3  
    2015/2016 Dresden 500m3  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 3000m Relay3  
    2015/2016 Shanghai 3000m Relay3  
    2019/2020 Nagoya 2000m Relay3  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 500m4  
    2014/2015 Dresden 3000m Relay4  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 3000m Relay4  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 3000m Relay4  
    2019/2020 Salt Lake City, UT 3000m Relay4  
    2019/2020 Dresden 2000m Relay4  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 500m5  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 500m5  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m6  
    2019/2020 Salt Lake City, UT 2000m Relay6  
    2019/2020 Shanghai 500m6  
    2016/2017 Minsk 500m7  
    2018/2019 Dresden 1000m7  
    2016/2017 Minsk 3000m Relay8  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 3000m Relay8  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 500m8  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m8  
    2018/2019 Almaty 1000m8  
    2019/2020 Shanghai 500m8  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 1000m9  
    2016/2017 Gangneung 1000m10  
    2015/2016 Dresden 3000m Relay10  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 500m11  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 500m11  
    2019/2020 Salt Lake City, UT 500m11  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1000m12  
    2016/2017 Dresden 500m12  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 500m12  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1000m13  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 1000m13  
    2016/2017 Gangneung 500m13  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 500m15  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1000m15  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 500m15  
    2019/2020 Dresden 1000m16  
    2016/2017 Dresden 1000m17  
    2016/2017 Minsk 1000m17  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 500m17  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 500m18  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 1000m19  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1000m21  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1000m23  
    2015/2016 Dresden 1000m23  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 500m24  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 500m27  
    2010/2011 Dresden 500m27  
    2010/2011 Dresden 1500m30  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1500m39  
    2012/2013 Dresden 1500m40  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1000m42  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 500m48  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1500m50  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 1500m52  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 1000m68  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1500m71  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 1500m73  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 500m74