Dione Voskamp, the 29-year-old Dutch sprinter, has decided to end her professional speed skating career with the upcoming Zilveren Bal competition, an event she has won three times before.
According to Schaatsen.nl, Voskamp will officially conclude her career during the Zilveren Bal race on Wednesday. She shared the news on Instagram, referring to the event as her “last dance.”
Voskamp specialized in the 500-meter sprint and achieved notable successes, including becoming world champion in the team sprint at the 2020 World Championships in Hamar as part of the Dutch team. She also earned two individual World Cup podium finishes on Asian ice—second place in Nagano on November 24, 2024, and third place five days later at the Olympic rink in Beijing. Reflecting on her achievements, she remarked that these were dream goals she had not imagined reaching during her childhood.
Expressing gratitude for her career, Voskamp said it had taken her to special places and reminded her of her beginnings with the Healthy Team in South Holland. Her dedication led her to move to Friesland to fully commit to skating. The decision to retire was made after careful consideration of future goals and the motivation required to continue competing at the highest level.
In recent years, Voskamp competed with Team Novus, a team formed by the skaters themselves. She expressed pride in the team’s ability to remain active over four years despite uncertainties. Looking ahead, Voskamp plans to focus on her graphic design business, Di-one, inviting companies to contact her for her services.
