Dutch Sporting Legends Trivia Quiz

Answer: Football

Johan Cruyff (1947-2016): Cruyff was not only an exceptional footballer but also a succesfull manager. Most of his career he played for Ajax, but he also played for Barcelona and Feyenoord in his 20-year career (1964-1974). He won the Dutch Championship 8 times with Ajax and once with Feyenoord. He won the European Cup three times with Ajax 1971, 1972 and 1973.

Johan Cruyff's managerial career was equally remarkable as his playing career. He began his coaching journey with Ajax in 1985, where he implemented his philosophy of "Total Football" and led the team to great success. Under his guidance, Ajax won the Dutch Championship in 1981-1982. In 1985 he took on the role of manager for FC Barcelona and won the Spanish Championship four times. He also guided Barcelona to their first European Cup victory in 1992. He left Barcelona in 1995.

Answer: Athletics

Fanny Blankers-Koen (1918-2004): Blankers-Koen defied societal expectations and achieved incredible success in athletics. At the 1948 London Olympics, she won four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 80m hurdles, and 4x100m relay, becoming a symbol of women's empowerment.

Her remarkable achievements came after overcoming the disruptions caused by World War II. Blankers-Koen's performances shattered stereotypes and laid the foundation for women's participation and recognition in sports.

Answer: Judo

Geesink was a judo pioneer and a remarkable ambassador for the sport. He gained international fame by winning the World Judo Championship in 1961, defeating the Japanese judoka who had previously been unbeatable. Geesink's victory transformed the perception of judo as a Japanese-dominated discipline.

He continued to inspire future generations as an accomplished coach and promoter of the sport worldwide.

Answer: Speed skating

Sven Kramer (born 1986): Kramer, regarded as one of the greatest long distance speed skaters of all time, winning 4 Olympic gold medals, 2 silver medals and 3 bronze medals. The Gold medals were won in the 5,000m at Vancouver 2010, at 2014 Sochi he won the Team Pursuit and the 5,000m again. At the games in South Korea 2018 he won the 5,000m for a third time.

In the period from 2006 until 2018 he was World Champion on 9 occasions in allround speed skating (500m, 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m combined). From March 19, 2006 until November 20, 2015 he was the worldrecordholder on the 10,000m speedskating. He retired on 12th March 2022.

Answer: Swimming

Pieter van den Hoogenband (born 1978): Van den Hoogenband is a former competitive swimmer who achieved great success in the pool. He won two Olympic gold medals in Sydney 2000 in the 100m freestyle and the 200m freestyle. Both were memorable victories over swimming legend Ian Thorpe. At the Olympic games in Athens in 2004 he again won gold in 100m and 200m Freestyle.

After his succesfull swimming career he served as Chef de Mission for the Dutch Team in the Olympic Games. He started this role in 2016. As the Chef de Mission, Van den Hoogenband was responsible for leading and representing the Dutch Olympic team, both on and off the field, during the Olympic Games.

Answer: Speed skating

Ard Schenk (born 1944): Schenk was a dominant speed skater during the late 1960s and early 1970s. During this time, he formed a legendary duo with his teammate Kees Verkerk, known as "Ard & Keessie", captivating both Dutch fans and the international speedskating community. His breakthrough year came in 1966 when he won his first World Speed Skating Championship at the 1,500m. This victory marked the beginning of his dominance in the sport.

He won three Olympic gold medals (1,500, 5,000m and 10,000m) at the 1972 Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan and a silver Olympic medal (1,500m) at the Winter Games in Grenoble 1968. He took part in 7 Allround World Championships, and won the Allround speed skating title three times (1970, 1971 and 1972).

Answer: Gymnastics

Epke Zonderland (born 1986): Zonderland was an artistic gymnast known for his gravity-defying routines on the horizontal bar. He won the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics with a stunning routine on the horizontal bar that featured multiple release and catch movements. Zonderland's daring and innovative approach to gymnastics earnt him the nickname "The Flying Dutchman".

His performances captivated audiences worldwide and elevated the popularity of gymnastics in the Netherlands.

Answer: Equestrianism

Anky van Grunsven (born 1968): Van Grunsven was an equestrian athlete who achieved extraordinary success in dressage, an artful form of horseback riding. She won three consecutive individual gold medals at the Olympic Games in 2000, 2004, and 2008. At the World Championships in 1994 The Hague, 1998 Rome and 2006 Aachen she won a total of 7 titles in Freestyle Dressage, Individual Dressage and Team dressage.

Her precision, her connection with her horses, and her mastery of intricate movements made her one of the most decorated dressage riders in history.

She was an inspiration to fellow equestrians and an ambassador for the sport.

Answer: Cycling

Leontien van Moorsel (born 1970): On the road, Leontien van Moorsel won the prestigious Olympic gold medal in the individual time trial at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She also won two gold medals at the UCI Road World Championships (1991 and 1993), She won the time trial event at the World Championships in 1998 and 1999. Her prowess against the clock earned her the nickname "The Queen of Time Trials."

In track cycling, van Moorsel's success was even more remarkable. She won 4 times the World Championship in Individual Pursuit (1990, 2001, 2002 and 2003). Van Moorsel's dominance on the track was evident throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Answer: Swimming

Inge de Bruijn (born 1973): De Bruijn was a former competitive swimmer who specialized in butterfly and freestyle events. She achieved great success, winning Olympic gold medals in 2000 at the Summer Games in Sydney in the 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle and 100m Butterfly.

In 2004 she was victorious at the Summer Olympics in Athens, where she won 50m Freestyle. De Bruijn's exceptional speed and technical prowess in the pool made her a dominant force in her events.