Erben Wennemars has announced that he will no longer serve as a speed skating analyst for NOS starting with the upcoming season, concluding seventeen years in the role.
NOS, a Dutch news outlet, reports on Wennemars’ decision to end his long-standing analytic career with the broadcaster.
Wennemars chose to step away from his analyst duties due to his son, Joep Wennemars, emerging as a prominent competitor across multiple distances. Reflecting on his departure, Erben Wennemars stated, “For many years, it was something I looked forward to all summer, and I did it with great pleasure and dedication. Over the past few years, I have been both an analyst and the father of a skater competing for titles. This dual role led some critics to view my position as complicated.” He added that this situation prevented him from fulfilling his work with the uninhibited approach he aims for, which influenced his decision to stop. Despite this, he expressed commitment to contributing to the sport’s development, noting that speed skating remains close to his heart.
Joep Wennemars achieved notable success last year by becoming the world champion in the 1,000 meters and participated in the Winter Olympics this past season.
Xander van der Wulp, the editor-in-chief of NOS Sport, commented on Wennemars’ departure, expressing regret but understanding. “While we are sorry to see Erben go, we appreciate his reasons. He has been an invaluable asset to NOS over many years. Beyond his expertise as an analyst, Erben is a distinctive personality and a fantastic ambassador for speed skating and sport generally. His knowledge and enthusiasm will be deeply missed, and I believe many fans feel the same,” van der Wulp said.
Van der Wulp also acknowledged the challenges of Wennemars’ dual role as analyst and father to an active competitor. Although Wennemars refrained from analyzing his son’s races at major events such as the Winter Olympics last season, the balancing act remained delicate. The collaboration between NOS and Wennemars involved discussions to manage this complexity. Van der Wulp stated, “We occasionally stepped outside typical roles to highlight moments such as when Joep became world champion, which yielded memorable television. We respect Erben’s choice for clear boundaries going forward.”
During his seventeen years with NOS, Erben Wennemars contributed prominently and experienced numerous memorable moments in speed skating coverage.
