Former Dutch speed skater Erben Wennemars has experienced a stroke but is currently recovering well, according to his wife.
De Telegraaf, a Dutch news outlet, reports on the health incident involving the former athlete.
Renate Wennemars, Erben’s wife, described the situation in an interview with De Stentor. She recounted how Erben called her sounding disoriented and speaking slowly, which prompted her to contact his general practitioner. Shortly thereafter, an ambulance was dispatched to bring him to the emergency room. The word “stroke” was overheard before the call ended.
At the hospital, Erben was diagnosed with a stroke. Fortunately, after 24 hours of observation and various tests, doctors allowed him to return home without imposing special lifestyle restrictions. Medical professionals noted that the stroke was not related to excessive physical exertion. Both Erben and his wife expressed how shocked they were by the event, emphasizing that a stroke can occur unexpectedly, even in otherwise healthy and fit individuals.
Erben Wennemars is recognized as one of the Netherlands’ most accomplished speed skaters. His major achievements include winning two gold medals at the World Single Distance Championships in Berlin in 2003, on the 1000 and 1500 meters. He went on to secure four more world titles at the same championships in subsequent years. In 2004 and 2005, he was World Sprint Champion in Nagano and Salt Lake City, respectively. At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Wennemars won two bronze medals, one in the 1000 meters and another in the team pursuit.
After retiring from professional skating in 2010, Wennemars worked as a speed skating analyst for broadcasters such as NOS. He recently decided to step down from this role to focus on supporting the career of his son, Joep Wennemars, who is also a speed skater.
