

Men
GER
Felix Rijhnen
- Date of birth09 Jul 1990
- Height186 CM
- ProfessionPolice Athlete
- HometownDarmstadt
- Place of birthDarmstadt
- Start skating Club He began roller speed skating in 1996, and took up speed skating on ice in 2009. OEC Frankfurt: Germany
- HobbiesN/A
- LanguagesEnglish, French, German
- Other nameBig Feli (online-skating.com, 03 May 2012)
- FamliyWife Katharina, one son [2023]
- CoachN/A
- ChoreographerN/A
- Former CoachN/A
- Practice low seasonN/A
- Practice high seasonN/A
- General Interest
- Sport Specific Information
He was named Athlete of the Year for 2022 by the Hesse State Police in Germany. (Instagram profile, 31 Mar 2023)
"All or nothing." (Deutsche Eisschnelllauf und Shorttrack-Gemeinschaft Facebook page, 13 Nov 2022)
US speed skater Chad Hedrick. (desg.de, 12 Aug 2014)
To compete at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. (Sportstiftung Hessen Facebook page, 20 Oct 2022)
Competing at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. (sportschau.de, 14 Nov 2022)
BREAK AND RETURN TO THE ICE
In 2015 he decided to end his speed skating career on ice and focus solely on roller speed skating after a disagreement with the German Speed Skating and Short Track Association [DESG]. "They didn't like the fact that I did my own thing in the summer and was into skates. They said if you want to be supported and encouraged, then you have to stop skating. It took a long time for the association to become aware of the fact that athletes careers can be extended by a few years if they have a second source of income. You won't get rich with both sports, but you at least you can earn a living. Inline skating [roller speed skating] is the sport that I am passionate about. The sport made me strong and the athlete I am today." In 2021 he was persuaded to return to the ice by DESG president Matthias Grosse with a view to competing at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. "He called me in January 2021 and said he would like to see me on the ice. He asked me what I needed to get to the Olympics. I wasn't done with it yet and was keen to try the whole thing again." (sportschau.de, 14 Nov 2022)
In 2015 he decided to end his speed skating career on ice and focus solely on roller speed skating after a disagreement with the German Speed Skating and Short Track Association [DESG]. "They didn't like the fact that I did my own thing in the summer and was into skates. They said if you want to be supported and encouraged, then you have to stop skating. It took a long time for the association to become aware of the fact that athletes careers can be extended by a few years if they have a second source of income. You won't get rich with both sports, but you at least you can earn a living. Inline skating [roller speed skating] is the sport that I am passionate about. The sport made me strong and the athlete I am today." In 2021 he was persuaded to return to the ice by DESG president Matthias Grosse with a view to competing at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. "He called me in January 2021 and said he would like to see me on the ice. He asked me what I needed to get to the Olympics. I wasn't done with it yet and was keen to try the whole thing again." (sportschau.de, 14 Nov 2022)
He also represents Germany in roller speed skating, and won gold in the road marathon event at the 2018 World Championships in Arnhem, Netherlands. (bmw-berlin-marathon.com, 30 Aug 2018; SportsDeskOnline, 24 Sep 2018)
He was unable to go roller speed skating on the streets during winter, so he thought he would try speed skating on ice.