Marrit Leenstra

www.facebook.com/marrit.leenstra
marrit-leenstra.nl/

Reason for choosing this sport	"I grew up with speed skating, and I kept skating for the feeling of speed a good corner gives you."
When and where did you begin this sport?	She began skating at age three at the natural ice track in Wijckel, Netherlands. She joined a speed skating club at age 10 in Heerenveen, Netherlands.

Famous relatives	Her husband Matteo Anesi has competed in speed skating for Italy. He won gold in team pursuit at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin. He has since worked as an assistant coach with the Italian national team. (nos.nl, 13 May 2016; termesport.it, 01 Apr 2015; Facebook profile, 03 Nov 2014, 19 Aug 2013)
Most influential person in career	Coach Jan van Veen. (Athlete, 10 Dec 2013)
Memorable sporting achievement	Winning gold in team pursuit at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (Athlete, 10 Mar 2017)
Other information	RETIREMENT In August 2018 she announced her retirement from competitive speed skating. She intended to start a course in geographical information science at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. (schaatsen.nl, 30 Aug 2018)
Injuries	She suffered a broken ankle in 2011/12. (Athlete, 10 Mar 2017)
Hobbies	Drinking coffee, studying environmental and sustainability issues, cycling, hiking. (marrit-leenstra.nl, 13 Oct 2017; schaatsen.nl, 15 Sep 2017)