Coach roept om vriend voor olympisch kampioen tijdens huldiging

2026-02-17 sport

Amsterdam, dinsdag, 17 februari 2026.
Tijdens de huldiging van Femke Kok in het TeamNL Huis na haar olympisch goud op de 500 meter, maakte haar coach Dennis van der Gun een opmerking over haar liefdesleven. Hij stelde dat ze, ondanks al haar successen, nog steeds geen vriend heeft. Die uitspraak zorgde direct voor ophef online. Maxim Hartman reageerde fel op Instagram. Kok zelf benadrukte later dat het als grap bedoeld was. Zij vond het jammer dat het moment werd overschaduwd. De discussie legt de nadruk op privacy en respect voor vrouwelijke atleten.

controversial remark overshadows kok’s achievement

During the official celebration for Femke Kok’s Olympic gold medal at the TeamNL Huis in Amsterdam, her coach Dennis van der Gun made a personal remark about her relationship status. He stated she now has everything except “a nice boyfriend” [1]. This comment immediately sparked criticism online, shifting attention away from her athletic accomplishment. Many viewed the remark as inappropriate during what should have been a purely performance-focused event [2]. The incident occurred three days before the current date, on February 15, 2026 [3].

public backlash intensifies online

Media personality Maxim Hartman responded sharply on Instagram, calling the comment “really inappropriate” and urging men to speak up when others cross lines [1]. He criticized the decision to highlight Kok’s dating life rather than solely celebrating her victory [1]. Other users echoed this sentiment, questioning whether such remarks would ever be directed at male athletes [2]. One commenter noted it reflects outdated views that women need partners to feel complete [4]. The phrase “hold your tongue next time” became widely shared across platforms [1].

athlete clarifies intent behind the comment

Femke Kok addressed the controversy through an Instagram Story on February 16, stating the remark was meant humorously among teammates [3]. She expressed disappointment that a light-hearted joke was misinterpreted publicly [5]. Kok emphasized feeling respected by her coach and credited him for much of her success [6]. She also thanked him for the influx of messages she received afterward, indicating awareness of the attention generated [1]. Her main concern remained preserving focus on sporting achievements over personal matters [6].

support emerges amid broader cultural debate

Former speed skater Annette Gerritsen defended Van der Gun, describing him as one of the most principled coaches she knew [7]. She argued his character does not align with sexist behavior and called the backlash unjustified [7]. However, columnist Alyssia van Asperen-Vervenne highlighted deeper issues in how society treats female athletes [4]. She stressed that women deserve recognition independent of romantic relationships [4]. The discussion underscores ongoing tensions between informal team dynamics and public perceptions of professionalism [4].

context of femke kok’s historic season

The 25-year-old sprint specialist secured Olympic gold in the 500-meter event in Milan, finishing 0.66 seconds ahead of silver medalist Jutta Leerdam [8]. This victory marked the first time a Dutch woman claimed Olympic gold in this discipline [9]. Prior to these Games, Kok had already achieved dominance with 23 consecutive World Cup wins and three straight world titles [3]. She also holds the world record since November 2025 [7]. These accomplishments underscore why critics felt the post-win commentary should have stayed strictly professional [4].

Bronnen

Femke Kok trainer opmerking