Sports year overview: six Olympic medals from Overijssel, drama Reshmie Oogink

Hoogland and Van den Berg

We start with the success. The athletes from our province take six medals back to the Netherlands. Two of these are for track cyclist Jeffrey Hoogland. Gold is in the team sprint with Roy van den Berg from Kampen and Harrie Lavreysen. The latter keeps Hoogland off his second gold medal in the individual sprint. Despite a 1-0 lead in the final, the Nijverdaller has to settle for silver. There is even more to cheer for Hoogland, because his girlfriend Shanne Braspennincx takes gold on the keirin.

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Also gold Kimmann

Our province is successful on the bike anyway, because Niek Kimmann also grabs gold. The BMX rider from Lutten thought his Olympic dream was over after he hit a crossing official a few days before his race and suffered a tear in his kneecap. Kimmann hides the pain and shows himself supreme during the match.

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Bronze Wild and Van der Breggen

The women on the bike also managed to win two medals. On the track, Kirsten Wild, who extended her career by a year because of the postponed Games, takes bronze in the omnium. A second medal is not possible for the Zwolse due to a fall on the coupling race with Amy Pieters.

Anna van der Breggen, also from Zwolle, also takes bronze, but then in the time trial on the road. Just like five years ago, she is in third place. Van der Breggen is also in her last year as a cyclist. During the road race, she lost her 2016 Rio title to Austria’s Anna Kiesenhofer. It turns out to be a blunder of the Dutch team, because after the time it is admitted that the Dutch did not know that the Austrian was still driving ahead. Annemiek van Vleuten comes as number two cheering over the finish line and thinks she has won, but only finds out after the race that she takes silver.

Surprising medal Oosterwegel

The most surprising medal in our province is awarded to Emma Oosterwegel. The athlete from Diepenveen climbs little by little in the standings and in the final 800 meters she finishes in second place. With that she knocks the American Kendell Williams off the podium and takes bronze in a fantastic way. Compatriot Anouk Vetter completes the party by winning silver.

Handsome triathlon Klamer

Rachel Klamer from Beuningen also performs very well during the Olympic triathlon. She just missed a medal, but finished fourth. An excellent performance for Klamer after a difficult year.

Drama Oogink

Then the less successful stories. Starting prior to the tournament. Taekwondoka Reshmie Oogink is already in Tokyo when she tests positive for corona and has to be in isolation for ten days. Two days later, she should be in action. It is extra hard that the Games should have been the end of her career for Oogink.

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Do not weavers to Tokyo

Vincent Wevers is also missing in Tokyo. The gymnastics coach and father of sisters Lieke and Sanne is passed by the KNGU because he has been discredited by allegations by gymnasts. They say they were mistreated by the coach. After summary proceedings, he is proved right and he seems to be allowed to assist his daughters in Tokyo, but the court reverses the decision of the subdistrict court judge and so Wevers is missing. His daughters do go, but do not take a medal of honor. Sanne defends her 2016 title on beam, but this time does not make it to the final. Lieke (as the first reserve) does make it to the final of the all-around, but finishes 24th and last.

No medal Woodcutter

The Games are also somewhat disappointing for Marc Houtzager. The show jumper from Rouveen does make it to the final of the individual competition, but gets 13 penalty points and stays far away from the medals. He sees fellow countryman Maikel van der Vleuten taking bronze. In the Nations Cup, the two finish in fourth place with Harrie Smolders. Willem Greve from Markelo also participates in the qualifications. Jeroen Dubbeldam from Weerselo is missing in Tokyo. A few months before the tournament, his horse Oak Grove’s Carlyle is sold.

France again plague handball players

France again appears to be the teasing spirit of the handball players, including Martine Smeets from Geesteren. In the quarterfinals, that team is much too strong: 32-22. Four years earlier, the Netherlands also lost to France in the semifinals. After that, the battle for bronze was also lost and so there is still no medal for the women who do manage to grab the world title in 2019. Shortly after the Games, Smeets announced that he would stop at Orange.

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Penalty drama football players

For the Dutch football players, including Jill Roord from Oldenzaal, Anouk Dekker from Wierden and Kika van Es, Renate Jansen and Sisca Folkertsma from FC Twente, the Olympic dream shattered in the quarterfinals. Just like in the final of the World Cup, two years earlier, America is too strong for Sarina Wiegman’s team. That team takes the penalty kicks better and therefore sends the Orange home during the debut at the Games.

Four Paralympics medals

At the Paralympic Games there are four Overijssel medals. Hand biker Jennette Jansen from Westerhaar takes gold and bronze and dressage rider Frank Hosmar won silver and bronze.