Joep Wennemars
Joep Wennemars is a long‑track speed skater specialising in the 500, 1000 and 1500 metres. At the University of Twente, he combined his Bachelor’s in International Business Administration with elite sport through the TalentNED performance programme. This required discipline and careful time management, but it also allowed him to develop both academically and athletically.
Speed skating has been part of Joep’s life from childhood - he is the son of former world champion and Olympic skater Erben Wennemars. Although his surname comes with expectations, Joep has charted his own course in elite sport. During his studies, he made significant progress and soon stood out on the international stage. In 2025, he became world champion in the 1000 metres, following in the footsteps of his father, who claimed world titles in the same event in 2003 and 2004.
Gidon Bante
For the moment, Gidon Bante remains a reserve at home, but there is a good chance he may still be called up for the TeamNL bobsleigh team. Since graduating, the former UT student has been working as a freelance biomedical engineer, while dedicating his athletic career to bobsleigh and skeleton.
Gidon discovered the sport relatively late, after taking part - on a whim - in a try‑out organised by the Dutch bobsleigh federation. Since 2022, he has been competing internationally with Team Newcold. His team, Team Wesselink, has qualified for the Olympic Games in Milan and will compete in the two‑man bobsleigh on 16 and 17 February, and in the four‑man event on 21 and 22 February.
