Marcel Bosker

Club / Team

Team Reggeborgh: Netherlands

Injuries	He was affected by an inflamed ankle and inflamed tendon in his big toe at the start of the 2019/20 season. (schaatsen.nl, 24 Aug 2020) He required an operation on his foot in 2015. (Athlete, 28 Jan 2017) He suffered a broken ankle in 2013. (Athlete, 13 Nov 2017)
Famous relatives	His mother Henriet van der Meer and his father Ronald Bosker competed in speed skating at international level. Both his parents represented Switzerland at the 2004 European Allround Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands. His partner Melissa Wijfje has represented the Netherlands in speed skating and won silver in team pursuit at the 2020 World Single Distances Championships in Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America. (SportsDeskOnline, 14 Nov 2021; Instagram profile, 31 Oct 2021; dvhn.nl, 29 May 2020; schaatsstatistieken.nl, 01 Jan 2020; schaatsen.nl, 28 Jan 2018)

Reason for choosing this sport

His parents were both elite skaters. "My father has a caravan in Flims, Switzerland, a well-known ski area that lies next to Laax. We went there regularly. I also did not want to sit alongside the track, but I tried to skate myself. From the moment I was able to walk, I skated. It was inspiring to see my parents skate [in international events]. Then I saw the [2010] Olympic Winter Games on televison, I saw Ireen Wust and Sven Kramer win gold medals. At that moment I realised for the first time that I wanted to become an Olympic champion."

Hero / Idol

Swiss speed skater Martin Hanggi. (Athlete, 23 Nov 2018)

Name of coach	Gerard van Velde [club], NED; Robin Derks [club], NED
When and where did you begin this sport?	He began skating at age five in Basel, Switzerland.

instagram.com/marcelbosker

Hobbies	DIY, cooking. (Schaatsteam Reggeborgh Facebook page, 22 Jun 2022)
Ambitions	To compete at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. (rtvnoord.nl, 27 Sep 2023)
Other information	HERITAGE He is eligible to represent the Netherlands and Switzerland though his parents Henriet van der Meer and Ronald Bosker. Henriet competed in speed skating for both the Swiss team and the Dutch team at World Cup events, while Ronald represented Switzerland in the sport at the European championships in 2004 and 2005. "Skating is an individual sport and ultimately you want to become a champion, preferably for the Netherlands of course. But it would not matter much for which country you do it, although not everyone will agree with me. The facilities and knowledge in the Netherlands cannot be found in other countries." (schaatsen.nl, 03 Oct 2019; schaatsen.nl, 01 Aug 2018) MEDICAL CONDITION He has been diagnosed with an elevated core temperature in his body. He had tests following his performance at the 2019 World Cup event in Astana, Kazakhstan, where he overheated and crashed out of the 10,000m. "I know that I am naturally warm. At home it is 18 degrees [Celsius] and I walk around in shorts and a T-shirt. For me that is normal, but not for other people." (schaatsen.nl, 30 Dec 2019)