Melissa Wijfje

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Reason for choosing this sport	Her parents wanted her to learn how to skate and she enjoyed skating on the natural ice in her garden.
Name of coach	Jillert Anema [club], NED; Jan Coopmans [national], NED
When and where did you begin this sport?	She began speed skating at age five in Leiden, Netherlands.
Club / Team	Team Zaanlander : Netherlands

Famous relatives	Her partner Marcel Bosker has also represented the Netherlands in speed skating, winning gold in team pursuit at the world single distances championships in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Her younger brother Tom has competed in speed skating at elite junior level. (SportsDeskOnline, 14 Nov 2021; Instagram profile, 31 Oct 2021; schaatsacademiehaarlem.nl, 07 Mar 2014)
Awards and honours	In 2013 and 2017 she was named Female Athlete of the Year in Nieuwkoop, Netherlands. (nieuwkoop.rtvlokaal.nl, 11 Mar 2017; nieuwsregio.nl, 08 Mar 2014)
Other information	SPORT AND STUDY She combines her speed skating career with studying commercial economics at the Johan Cruyff Academy in Groningen, Netherlands, which specialises in educating athletes. "I started a higher vocational course in Leiden once before. I remember having to explain to 10 teachers again and again why I couldn't take an exam. Now I have three contacts who are aware of exactly what I do and where I am. They help me with how I can pass exams despite all the training and tournaments. It is possible and we will make clear agreements about it. People think that I do not have time to study during the skating season, but that is not the case. In the summer you lay the foundation for your fitness. That's when I come home exhausted in the evening and sometimes have little energy left for studying. In the skating season itself I have more room for studying." (cruyffacademy.nl, 10 Mar 2021) ILLNESS In 2014 she was diagnosed with Graves' disease, a condition that affects the thyroid. She was not able to train for a period and lost weight. (schaatsen.nl, 18 Oct 2014)
Most influential person in career	Dutch speed skater Marcel Bosker. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"Go hard or go home." (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)
Other sports	She has competed in road cycling races, including the 2018 Tour of Uppsala in Sweden. (procyclingstats.com, 29 Jun 2019)
Ambitions	To win gold in the 1500m or 3000m at the Olympic Winter Games or world championships. Away from competition, she aspires to start a sports-related business. (cruyffacademy.nl, 10 Mar 2021)
Memorable sporting achievement	Winning a total of six gold medals at the world junior championships in 2014 and 2015, placing third in the 5000m at the 2016 World Cup event in Heerenveen, Netherlands, and finishing third in the 3000m at the 2017 World Cup event in Stavanger, Norway. (Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)