From the Chinese Liu brothers to the Dutch Velzeboer sisters, and from Hanne and Stijn Desmet of Belgium to Pietro and Arianna Sighel of Italy, there are plenty of talented siblings on the ISU Short Track World Tour. Few are more delighted to be in each other’s company at the moment other than brothers Jens and Melle van ’t Wout of the Dutch Lions, however. 

Big brother Melle, 25, inspired Jens, 24, to get into Short Track as a kid. Jens has since hit the heights, ranking No.2 overall last season.  His successes were muted by just one thing: Melle’s hellish two-year struggle with a knee injury, which meant he couldn’t join in. 

“The only reason I am skating is because I wanted to be with him,” Jens said. “I wasn’t a sports person when I was younger. Having my brother back on tour, that is everything to me. We’ve been training for so long together, our whole life.”

Melle (left) and Jens van 't Wout (NED) before the Mixed Relay at the first leg of the 2025/26 ISU Short Track World Tour in Montreal, Canada © ISU

Most might think an Olympic gold medal is top of Jens’ wish list for this season. It isn’t. 

“What would be a good season for me? I’ve got so many different things in my head but the best thing for me would be to go to the Olympics with my brother. We just have such a good connection. When he came back, I bawled my eyes out. If he does well, I will bawl my eyes out again. To be back racing Mixed Relays with him, that’s already the best thing I’ve ever had.”

Melle’s road to recovery 

Melle has had to be patient. “I was out for nearly two years,” he said. “The first year was trying to avoid surgery. We did a bunch of different things to get the tendon stronger. I even had needles into my nerves, but nothing worked.

“We ended up having to get the surgery done. I was happy but also sad at the same time, because I knew that would be another year. After a year, your endurance is gone, your muscle is gone. I knew it was going to be a hard road back. But I made it.”

Melle van 't Wout (NED) looks on ahead of the men's 500m final during the 2023 ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Gdansk, Poland © ISU

Mental strength has been key – and Jens played a big role.

“It was mentally tough,” Melle said. “Skating is what I love the most. Unfortunately it’s my second big injury, I also had a back injury four years ago, so I knew about that dark hole you fall in. You can’t train, you’re not seeing your teammates. I missed my brother a lot. But Jens kicking ass really motivated me and dragged me through the slump. Seeing your brother win, it gives you energy, and I want to win with him now. Doing relays with him, traveling together, rooming together again – all those little things, that’s what motivated me to fight back.”

 Jens van 't Wout (NED) at the start of the 1000m heats at the second leg of the 2025/26 ISU Short Track World Tour in Montreal, Canada © ISU

The inspiration is mutual. “To see him go through all that, and how strong he was mentally, I’d rather him be here than me,” said Jens. “I would take an injury for him. But now we are here together.” 

The pair became particularly close after moving back to their birthplace, the Netherlands, having grown up for a decade in Canada. “We’ve got a special bond because when we moved back, it was a different language, different culture,” Melle said. “We really gravitated towards each other and, ever since, we have been inseparable.”

Melle believes Olympic medals are inevitable for Jens. “After seeing what he was doing this summer, it is hard to believe he is human. It’s crazy to see my little brother go that hard. Last year he was good, but I think this year he will be even better. It’s going to be fun. He is itching for it.”

Sibling rivalry is still present, despite the mutual appreciation. “I do feel like I can get to his level,” Melle said. 

Melle van 't Wout (NED) prepares at the second leg of the 2025/26 ISU Short Track World Tour in Montreal, Canada © ISU

“Throughout our career, for one season he will be better, then the next season I’m better. So it’s possible. We’ve always pulled each other to the next level. Now he’s really good, and I’ve been out for a while. But I see how fast I’m coming back. If I can fight with him in training, I know I can do well in competitions. Every day I go to the rink and I know that’s the gap I need to close. Closing a gap is easier than leading. But I look forward to another full summer, to get my body where it needs to be.”

Jens agrees. “Melle is strong enough to be the second best 500m skater in the Netherlands, and he’s chasing me. That shows he is really strong.”

For now, they’ve got to concentrate on doing as well as they can to qualify for Milano Cortina 2026.

Jens van 't Wout (NED) prepares at the second leg of the 2025/26 ISU Short Track World Tour in Montreal, Canada © ISU

“It so good to be racing again,” Melle said. “This is the biggest show there is. To see all the people from different countries, to race them again, that’s a good feeling. But I know I have to perform to get to the Games. There are boys at home who want my spot. The level is high. But that step is possible.” 

Jens, meanwhile, knows he can target the top of the podiums. “It’s Olympic season. I’m super excited. My summer was really good, I’m the fittest I’ve been. All I can do is race and see where I am, compared with others.”

For now the Van ’t Wouts are just loving life, and being together. “He’s a great brother,” Melle said. “To hear him say he’d take my injuries… he doesn’t deserve any. I’d take them for him.”

To enter the rink in Milano together, then, could be their greatest moment.