Olympic Speed Skating Champion Thomas Krol Retires to Pursue New Career Path

The Hague, 24 February - Reigning Olympic speed skating champion Thomas Krol has announced his retirement from the sport with immediate effect. The 31-year-old athlete, who clinched the Olympic gold medal in the 1,000-meter speed skating event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, will now shift his focus to pursuing a career as a pilot.

Krol expressed his sentiments to the national broadcaster NOS, stating, "That Olympic title was the crown of my career. That's what I dreamed of as a little kid. Now I say goodbye to something I did for 20 years. But at the same time, it also opens a new door to the next step in my life."

In addition to his Olympic success, Krol also achieved world championship titles in the 1,500 meters in 2019 and 2021, as well as claiming the world sprint champion title in 2022. His retirement marks the end of an era in Dutch speed skating, with another Olympic champion, Irene Schouten, also announcing her retirement earlier this week at the age of 31. Schouten, who competed in the women's 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters, and mass relay events at the Beijing 2022 Olympics, has decided to conclude her professional speed skating career.