Jorrit Bergsma

twitter.com/JorritBergsma
www.facebook.com/jorrit.bergsma
www.jorritbergsma.nl

When and where did you begin this sport?	He first tried the sport on natural ice in Aldeboarn, Netherlands. He began skating indoors in 1993 in Thialf, Netherlands.
Club / Team	Team Zaanlander: Netherlands
Name of coach	Jillert Anema [club], NED
Reason for choosing this sport	His father got him involved in the sport.

Other information	FATHERHOOD He skipped the first two World Cup events of the 2018/19 season, which were both held in Japan, after his son Brent was born in October 2018. His daughter Barbara Jean was born in September 2020. "When I'm home, I take over all the tasks. There is nothing better than doing that. You also start to put things into perspective and unconsciously skating becomes less important." (Instagram profile, 08 Sep 2020; schaatsen.nl, 31 Dec 2018; nos.nl, 07 Dec 2018; nu.nl, 29 Oct 2018; omropfryslan.nl, 26 Oct 2018)
Injuries	He was forced to retire from a 100km inline skating race in August 2017 after suffering knee and elbow injuries in a fall. (telegraaf.nl, 19 Aug 2017) In January 2013 he required four stitches in his eyebrow after colliding with another skater during training and hitting his head on the ice. (volkskrant.nl, 31 Jan 2013)
Hobbies	Sailing. (schaatsen.nl, 17 Dec 2013)
Famous relatives	His wife Heather Bergsma [nee Richardson] represented the United States of America in speed skating at the Olympic Winter Games in 2014 and 2018. (Facebook profile, 10 Dec 2020; Pyeongchang Entries, 15 Feb 2018; nrc.nl, 20 Feb 2014)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"Work hard, believe in yourself and enjoy." (Athlete, 08 Feb 2017)
Other sports	He has competed in marathon skating and was Dutch national champion in 2010 and 2012. (spitsnieuws.nl, 08 Feb 2012)
Memorable sporting achievement	Winning gold in the 10,000m at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (Athlete, 13 Nov 2017)
Most influential person in career	His father. (Athlete, 08 Feb 2017)