Men
BEL
Stijn DESMET
BEL- Date of birth10 Apr 1998
- Height1760 CM
- ProfessionAthlete, Student
- Home townMechelen
- Place of birthDuffel
- Start skating / Club He took up short track in 2008 with the Ice Racing Team Antarctica club in Wilrijk, Belgium. / Ice Diamonds Antwerp [IDA]: Belgium
- languagesDutch, English, French
- General Interest
- Sport Specific Information
He received the 2015 Trophy for Promising Youngsters in Wilrijk, Belgium. (wilrijk.n-va.be, 25 Feb 2016)
"No fun, no glory." (Athlete, 08 Nov 2017)
Belgian footballer Michy Batshuayi. (Athlete, 04 Nov 2018)
His older sister Hanne, his mother, and Belgian short track skater Gert-Jan Goeminne. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2019, 04 Nov 2018)
In September 2021 he suffered a leg injury after he was involved in a crash with Dutch short track skater Bram Steenaart during a training session in Courmayeur, Italy. (proximus.be, 04 Sep 2021)
He struggled with a knee injury in 2020. (kbsf.be, 22 Oct 2020)
In August 2019 he suffered a broken wrist during a strength training exercise. The injury was initially suspected to be a sprain, so he competed with a broken wrist for four months before undergoing surgery in December 2019. He returned to training one week later. (nieuwsblad.be, 23 Jan 2020; schaatsen.nl, 15 Dec 2019)
He struggled with a knee injury in 2020. (kbsf.be, 22 Oct 2020)
In August 2019 he suffered a broken wrist during a strength training exercise. The injury was initially suspected to be a sprain, so he competed with a broken wrist for four months before undergoing surgery in December 2019. He returned to training one week later. (nieuwsblad.be, 23 Jan 2020; schaatsen.nl, 15 Dec 2019)
TRAINING IN THE NETHERLANDS
In 2018 he and his sister Hanne were offered the opportunity to train in Heerenveen, Netherlands, alongside the Dutch national team and coach Jeroen Otter. "Of course, we were immediately enthusiastic about it, we really wanted to. We also went to live in Heerenveen, and we were received very well and have enjoyed everything we are offered there. These 18 months with the Dutch [speaking in 2020] have put me in a perfect position to evolve to the highest level." (skatenl.nl, 07 Mar 2020)
FURTHER EDUCATION
He has studied for a master's degree in industrial engineering at KU Leuven in Belgium. "When I graduate and go skating even further, I definitely still want to continue studying. I think it's better than combining a job and elite sport." (kuleuven.be, 03 Feb 2022)
In 2018 he and his sister Hanne were offered the opportunity to train in Heerenveen, Netherlands, alongside the Dutch national team and coach Jeroen Otter. "Of course, we were immediately enthusiastic about it, we really wanted to. We also went to live in Heerenveen, and we were received very well and have enjoyed everything we are offered there. These 18 months with the Dutch [speaking in 2020] have put me in a perfect position to evolve to the highest level." (skatenl.nl, 07 Mar 2020)
FURTHER EDUCATION
He has studied for a master's degree in industrial engineering at KU Leuven in Belgium. "When I graduate and go skating even further, I definitely still want to continue studying. I think it's better than combining a job and elite sport." (kuleuven.be, 03 Feb 2022)
He got involved in the sport to help with his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD].
Ingmar van Riel [national]
