Michel Mulder

Memorable sporting achievement

Winning gold in the 500m at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (Athlete, 23 Nov 2018)

Reason for choosing this sport

His five older brothers took him to a skating rink and he enjoyed himself.

Most influential person in career	Coaches Gerard van Velde and Desly Hill. (Athlete, 01 Mar 2017)
Hero / Idol	Dutch coach Gerard van Velde, Korean speed skater Lee Kyou-Hyuk, British snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan. (Athlete, 08 Nov 2013, 02 Dec 2011)

When and where did you begin this sport?

He took up the sport at age six in Deventer, Netherlands.

Sporting philosophy / motto	"Try to improve every detail to get the best out of yourself." (Athlete, 14 Dec 2012)
Other sports	He won gold in roller speed skating in the road 500m sprint at the 2012 World Championships in Rome, Italy. (SportsDeskOnline, 14 Dec 2015; rtvoost.nl, 14 Sept 2012)
Famous relatives	His twin brother Ronald has represented the Netherlands in both speed skating and inline skating. In speed skating he placed seventh in the 500m at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, and in inline skating he won two bronze medals and a silver medal at the 2018 European Championships in Oostende, Belgium. (SportsDeskOnline, 27 Sep 2018; schaatsen.nl, 25 Oct 2013)
Injuries	He sustained a groin injury in December 2016. (schaatsen.nl, 30 Dec 2016) In 2016 he ruptured an ankle ligament while attempting a high jump on a Dutch television programme. (olympics.nbcsports.com, 27 Dec 2017) In July 2013 he broke his wrist after colliding with a photographer while he was inline skating. (rtvoost.nl, 04 Aug 2013)

www.facebook.com/MichelMulderSpeedskater/
twitter.com/muldermichel

Awards and honours	He was flag bearer for the Netherlands at the 2017 World Games in Wroclaw, Poland. (schaatsen.nl, 19 Jul 2017)
Other information	RETIREMENT He retired from competition at the conclusion of the 2019/20 season and revealed he would like to focus on coaching. "I have never hidden that I would really like to become a trainer. I have been certified as a gym coach and am already registered for the skating trainer course. So there is a good chance that I will often be seen on the ice rink." (nos.nl, 06 Jan 2020) OTHER ACTIVITIES He and his brother Ronald were the tournament directors of the 2018 World Inline Skating Championships in Heerde and Arnhem in the Netherlands. (schaatsen.nl, 24 May 2018)

www.broertjesmulder.nl