Irene Schouten

Olympic Champion

Irene Schouten knows better than anyone what it takes to make ambitions come true. As a three-time Olympic champion, entrepreneur, and mother, she shares a personal and inspiring story about discipline, resilience, entrepreneurship, and the power of believing in yourself. From her experiences in top-level sports and the family business, she demonstrates how a strong mindset and hard work can help you achieve new goals even after setbacks.

Employability:: Keynote speaker, Q&A sessions, Workshop
Languages:: Dutch, English
Categories:: Entrepreneurship

Health and Care

Leadership & Strategy

Motivation

Sports & Team Building

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About Irene Schouten

Irene Schouten grew up in the West Frisian town of Wervershoof, in the middle of the polder, where her parents ran a tulip nursery. It was an environment where hard work was a given, and everyone pitched in at the family business. Irene learned early on that nothing comes easy. If she wanted new skates, she had to earn them herself. That simple, yet powerful motto, if you want something, you have to work for it, became the guiding principle of her life.

She brought this mentality into the world of elite sports. Irene was known as a relentless worker, someone who never gives up and always goes a step further than the rest. Her career wasn’t a straight path upward; she faced setbacks that tested her strength and perseverance to the limit. One of the most impactful moments was her mother’s cerebral hemorrhage.

While her home life was turned upside down, Irene kept training, kept believing, kept fighting. It was precisely this combination of emotional resilience and unwavering discipline that ultimately brought her to the pinnacle of the world stage.

At the Beijing 2022 Olympics, Irene made history. With three gold medals and one bronze, she became the most successful Dutch winter athlete ever in a single edition of the Games. Her achievements were the result of years of dedication, sacrifices, discipline, and a mindset deeply rooted in her upbringing. She became an inspiration for many: an athlete who shows that success never comes on its own, but is created through character, perseverance, and a love for the sport.

After her Olympic triumphs, there was room for another dream: a family. Irene built a wonderful life with her partner and their child, entering a new phase where happiness and pride took on a different form. At the same time, she activated her entrepreneurial side. With RFRMR, her own reformer Pilates company, she combines her passion for sports with her vision of staying/getting fit and healthy.

Today, Irene Schouten is more than an Olympic champion. She is an entrepreneur, mother, inspirer, and role model. Her story is that of a West Frisian girl who learned that you can shape your own future as long as you’re willing to work for it. And that is precisely what she continues to do every day.

Topics

1. Personal story

From a West Frisian girl in a family business to Olympic champion, entrepreneur, and mother. Irene shares the personal story behind her successes, setbacks, and the choices that have shaped her.
2. Entrepreneurship

After her top sports career, Irene turned her passion for sports and health into entrepreneurship with her own reformer Pilates business, RFRMR. She talks about pursuing a new dream and building a new future.
3. Family businesses

Growing up on her parents’ tulip farm, Irene learned early on what hard work, responsibility, and teamwork mean. These values formed the foundation of her mentality, both in and out of sports.
4. Care & Health

Health took on an extra meaning in Irene’s life due to her mother’s stroke. From her own experiences and passion for fitness, she shows how important it is to take good care of yourself and each other.
5. Elite sports

Irene takes the audience behind the scenes of her journey to the absolute world top. She shares what it takes to perform at the highest level and how discipline, sacrifices, and perseverance ultimately lead to Olympic success.
6. Mindset & Discipline

If you want something, you have to work for it. This belief runs like a common thread through Irene’s life. She demonstrates how discipline, perseverance, and the strength to keep going after setbacks can make a difference.
7. Leadership

What does it take to bring out the best in yourself and others? From her experience as a top athlete, Irene shows how taking responsibility, setting goals, and setting a good example contribute to performance and success.
8. Inspiration & Motivation

Irene Schouten shows that success doesn’t come automatically; it’s built through choices, hard work, and believing in yourself. Her story inspires people to pursue their ambitions and keep going even after setbacks.

Videos

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Irene Schouten Breaks Olympic Record in Speed Skating