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On these European Championships, no Dutch athlete settled for just participating. ‘We have a team that wants to win’
🇳🇱 Netherlands /Sports

On these European Championships, no Dutch athlete settled for just participating. ‘We have a team that wants to win’

From NRC Handelsblad · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Dutch athletes achieved a record fourteen medals, including five golds, at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
  • The team finished fourth in the medal standings, demonstrating consistent success across major international tournaments.
  • This performance is partly attributed to the arrival of coach Laurent Meuwly in 2018 and a long-term plan to elevate Dutch athletics.

The Dutch athletics team concluded the European Championships in Birmingham with a record-breaking fourteen medals, five of which were gold, solidifying their position as a major force in the sport. The team's strong showing placed them fourth in the overall medal standings, behind Italy, Great Britain, and Germany.

We have just gotten into a good vibe with the team.

— Stefan NillessenStefan Nillessen on the team's positive atmosphere after winning the 1,500 meters.

This success marks the fourth consecutive major international tournament, excluding the Olympics, where the Dutch contingent has outperformed previous results. Following five medals (two gold) at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, twelve medals (three gold) at the 2024 European Championships in Rome, and six medals (two gold) at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, the medal flood in Birmingham underscores a sustained period of achievement.

It's starting to feel like old times.

— Femke Broeders-BolFemke Bol-Broers on the Dutch women's 4x400m relay team winning their third consecutive European title.

"It's starting to feel like old times," remarked Femke Bol-Broers, half-jokingly, after she and her 4x400m relay teammates secured their third consecutive European title. Head coach Laurent Meuwly described the atmosphere as "very positive," emphasizing the goal of making the athletes' success sustainable.

It's all very positive.

— Laurent MeuwlySwiss head coach Laurent Meuwly of the Athletics Union on the team's performance.

The current flourishing period in Dutch athletics is significantly linked to Meuwly's arrival in 2018. His recruitment was part of an ambitious two-decade-old strategy by the Dutch Athletics Union to transform the Netherlands into a leading athletics nation. This plan involved dedicated funding, centralizing athletes at the Papendal sports center, professionalizing support teams and facilities, and hiring top international coaches to bridge the gap with the global elite.

We want the success of our athletes to be sustainable, and this tournament shows that it is working.

— Laurent MeuwlyHead coach Laurent Meuwly on the sustainability of Dutch athletics success.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by NRC Handelsblad in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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