Olympic Champion | Coach | Speaker on Resilience, Variety, and Sustainable Performance
As an Olympic speed skating champion, Bob de Jong knows what it takes to remain at the world’s top for years. His stories convey a surprising lesson: variety is not a distraction from your goal; it is a prerequisite for endurance.
Our consultants would be happy to advise you on how best to tailor the narrative to your specific target audience.
Bob de Jong is among the most successful long-track speed skaters the Netherlands has produced. As a five-time Olympian and four-time medalist, he remained at the world’s top for over twenty years. His career was marked by discipline, perseverance, but above all, variety.
While many top athletes focus entirely on one form of training, Bob deliberately chose a broad approach. He trained not only on the ice but also cycled, ran, skied, played tennis, and later even hockey. Both on the field and on the ice. He climbed mountains on skis, descended telemarking, and cycled through Seoul and Salt Lake City to the ice rink instead of taking the bus. This versatility kept his body balanced and his mind sharp.
His approach was not always conventional. When he decided to work with a sports psychologist, it clashed with the established order, but it proved to be a turning point. By thinking outside the box, Bob discovered the power of change. He learned that variation is not a distraction from your goal but a prerequisite for endurance.
After 22 years in top sports and three years as a coach in Asia, where he worked in South Korea, Canada, and China, Bob now shares his insights on sustainable performance, mental resilience, and the importance of variety. His stories are full of relatable lessons for teams and organizations that want to stay dynamic in a constantly changing world.
With down-to-earth humor, energy, and a wealth of experience, Bob inspires his audience not to fear change but to use it as fuel for growth. Because those who dare to vary not only perform better but do so with joy.
How variety in training, work and thinking leads to sustainable performance and creativity.
Skiing as training for my skating performance has led to fun in the snow and yet training your lungs at altitude… but how do you think tennis has added value…
Learning to cope with pressure, recovery and balance – the foundation for long-lasting top performances.
A lot is expected from an athlete, their own environment because you are away a lot, but also the sponsor and media pressure. Make sure what you do remains enjoyable, challenge yourself and you set your goal. Vary in movement but also the environment, change meeting place or work location.
What five Olympic Games and 22 years of top-level sport teach about perseverance, failure, and making a comeback.
Being dropped from the team or not having the right environment to perform taught me that you can create this yourself. Learning from a disappointment was the greatest school to be able to continue growing for a long time and to improve myself.
Why daring to leave the beaten track is essential to keep growing.
Standing still is the first step backwards, looking for improvements in material and training conditions. Ski touring as endurance work, and style-dancing for coordination. How a cyclo-cross bike ensured I could cover many winter miles…Duct tape and silicone sealant on my racing suit for better aerodynamics…
What we can learn from coaching experiences in Asia, Canada, and Europe about team culture and motivation.
Life as a top athlete in these countries often means moving to the training location, alone or with parents. The facilities are so advanced and continue to innovate to stay ahead. With TeamNL, a catch-up has been made with the facilities.
Request pricing and availability, without obligation. Our consultants will be happy to help you personally.
Our specialists are ready to match the right expertise to your goals.
Get the latest insights and trends from top experts delivered straight to your inbox every month.
