Skating is a sport that can’t exist without the men and women who roll up their sleeves behind the scenes. Leen van den Heuvel (60) is one such man, serving the sport as a coach and board member. He recently retired from the KNSB long track/short track section board, but the sport of speed skating is far from over for him.

Are the right people at the starting line at a National Championship: those who have qualified correctly according to the regulations? And does the correct winner appear on the scoreboard in the 500 meters: the one with the fastest time or the best ranking after two races? Leen van den Heuvel, as a so-called sports expert, ensures that this is taken care of.

Quietly, behind the scenes, while skaters shine and the crowd celebrates, he does his work. ‘I don’t necessarily need to be in the spotlight,’ says the Stolwijk native. “I prefer to help organize a good event, which runs according to the rules we have agreed on together.”

Working as a sports expert is a new activity, or at least it’s a new title he’s earned with the International Skating Union (ISU). Van den Heuvel has been involved in various aspects of skating since 1997. With love and pleasure. “Because skating is such a beautiful sport. “Because skating is such a beautiful sport.
Everyone does it: from farm boys to medical specialists. And you can stay active well into old age, because you never forget how to do it.”

Continue reading the complete article on Schaatsen.nl. It gives a good idea of where my passion for skating comes from.