Atje Keulen-Deelstra

Atje lobe Deelstra ( born December 31, 1938 in Grou, community Boarnsterhim, † February 22, 2013 in Leeuwarden ) was a Dutch speed skater who made ​​his international breakthrough only in the relatively advanced age of 30 years. She was four -time World Champion and three-time European Champion in the all around.

Biography

Early age of 16 she won as Atje Deelstra the Junior Short Track Championship the province of Friesland. At the time she competed in several sports activities, but preferred the speed skating. In 1962, she married Jelle lobes, and the couple had three children, 1963-1966. Your athletic career seemed to be over with it.

Nevertheless, they started in 1967 training again, even if you told her repeatedly that she was for the high-performance sports now too old. A place in the national team she was not initially, but that did not stop them from 1970, the Dutch all-around championship to decide for himself and to let the likes of Ans Schut and Stien Kaiser behind. In the same year followed by the gain of the discharged in West Allis -around World Cup. 1970 was crowned by the election of the Dutch Sportswoman of the Year.

1972, 1973 and 1974 she won the Dutch, European and World Championships in the all around, and at the Olympic Winter Games in 1972 in Sapporo they could over 1,500 m and 3,000 m and the bronze medal over 1000 meters to win the silver medal. In 1975, she joined the skating marathon and was able to decide the Dutch championship for four times, most recently in 1980 as the now 42- year-old.

Shortly after they had in 1997 in a traffic accident suffered injuries from that, they took part in nor on elfstedentocht.

Her daughter Boukje lobes was also speed skater.