- Date of birth16 Aug 1986
- Height177 CM
- ProfessionAthlete
- HometownCalgary
- Place of birthLeiderdorp
- Start skatingHe took up the sport in 1990 at Schaatsclub Gouda in the Netherlands.
- Club Ichiban Speed Skating Club: Calgary, AB, CAN, Schaatsclub Gouda, the Netherlands
- Hobbies"I am a big car racing fan. I have a big simulator in my basement, which I like to play but I have been training too hard this season." (Athlete, December 2025)
- LanguagesDutch, English, German
- Other nameTJ Flowers, TJ Fleurs ['Bloemen' is Dutch for 'flowers']. (olympics.com, 21 Feb 2022)
- FamliyWife Marlinde, daughter Fiene [2019], son Thias [2022]
- CoachBart Schouten
- Former CoachN/A
- General Interest
- Sport Specific Information
In 2016 and 2018 he received the Jeremy Wotherspoon Award from Speed Skating Canada. The honour recognises the Canadian male speed skater of the year. (speedskating.ca, 01 Jan 2020, 24 Sep 2016)
In 2016 he received the Oscar Mathisen Award. The honour is presented annually in recognition of the most outstanding speed skating performance of the season. (speedskating.ca, 22 Sep 2017)
In 2015 he was named Skater of the Year by the Alberta Amateur Speed Skating Association [AASSA] in Canada. (schaatsen.nl, 02 May 2016)
In 2016 he received the Oscar Mathisen Award. The honour is presented annually in recognition of the most outstanding speed skating performance of the season. (speedskating.ca, 22 Sep 2017)
In 2015 he was named Skater of the Year by the Alberta Amateur Speed Skating Association [AASSA] in Canada. (schaatsen.nl, 02 May 2016)
"I like to just make a good plan and really stick to it. That's how I keep my consistency in my daily routine. And that is what I need. Because that consistency is a bit of a weakness for me. It's hard to keep that going throughout the whole year. If I don't have that plan to hold onto, it's so hard for me mentally to stay on it and to keep my belief habits." (thestar.com, 31 Jan 2022)
British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton. (Athlete, December 2025)
Coach Bart Schouten, and his wife Marlinde. (Athlete, December 2025)
"To win an Olympic gold medal in front of my kids in Milano." (Athlete, December 2025)
- Competed at PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, winning gold in the 10,000m and silver in the 5000m at PyeongChang 2018. (isu-skating.com/speed-skating, 30 November 2025)
- He became the first speed skater representing Canada to win 10,000m Olympic gold, when triumphing at Pyeongchang 2018 (SportsDeskOnline, 09 Nov 2022; speedskating.ca, 03 Feb 2022)
- Won gold in the men's 5000m at the 2020 ISU World Single Distance Championships.
- Won silver in the men's 10,000m at the 2024 and 2020 ISU World Single Distance Championships. (isu-skating.com/speed-skating, December 2025)
- He became the first speed skater representing Canada to win 10,000m Olympic gold, when triumphing at Pyeongchang 2018 (SportsDeskOnline, 09 Nov 2022; speedskating.ca, 03 Feb 2022)
- Won gold in the men's 5000m at the 2020 ISU World Single Distance Championships.
- Won silver in the men's 10,000m at the 2024 and 2020 ISU World Single Distance Championships. (isu-skating.com/speed-skating, December 2025)
FATHERHOOD
His daughter Fiene was born in 2019 and his son Thias followed in 2022. "It changes your perspective for sure. Speed skating has always been the red line in my life, like if I don't know what to do, I'm going to go skating and get better. That has always been the purpose of my life. Now I have two things that I'm super passionate about. I don't know how it is for sprinting, but for long distance skating, we just need to exert ourselves all summer. Pretty much every day in the summer, you're just crashed on the couch and you're done for the day. It gets really hard to still have energy to enjoy some playtime with your kid. I found that really frustrating. If I'm still going to skate, I need to figure this out, how to be an athlete and a dad at the same time." (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023; Player's Own Voice podcast, 29 Sep 2020)
FROM THE NETHERLANDS TO CANADA
In June 2014 he moved from the Netherlands to Canada with the intention of switching nationality. He made the decision after missing out on selection for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. He is eligible to represent Canada through his father Gerhard-Jan, who was born in New Brunswick. Bloemen received his new passport just ahead of the 2014/15 World Cup season. "I didn't really know what to expect but I was grateful for the opportunity. So I went with the intention of being the best team player I could be, ready to share my experience and knowledge. It turned out to be the best decision I ever made. I couldn't be more grateful for the way I was received by the team. People really made an effort to help me find my way and feel at home in my new country." (netherlandsnewslive.com, 23 Jan 2021; Player's Own Voice podcast, 29 Sep 2020; Speed Skating Canada YouTube channel, 29 Jan 2020; cbc.ca, 09 Feb 2017; schaatsflits.nl, 29 Oct 2014; sirc.ca, 27 Oct 2014)
His daughter Fiene was born in 2019 and his son Thias followed in 2022. "It changes your perspective for sure. Speed skating has always been the red line in my life, like if I don't know what to do, I'm going to go skating and get better. That has always been the purpose of my life. Now I have two things that I'm super passionate about. I don't know how it is for sprinting, but for long distance skating, we just need to exert ourselves all summer. Pretty much every day in the summer, you're just crashed on the couch and you're done for the day. It gets really hard to still have energy to enjoy some playtime with your kid. I found that really frustrating. If I'm still going to skate, I need to figure this out, how to be an athlete and a dad at the same time." (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023; Player's Own Voice podcast, 29 Sep 2020)
FROM THE NETHERLANDS TO CANADA
In June 2014 he moved from the Netherlands to Canada with the intention of switching nationality. He made the decision after missing out on selection for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. He is eligible to represent Canada through his father Gerhard-Jan, who was born in New Brunswick. Bloemen received his new passport just ahead of the 2014/15 World Cup season. "I didn't really know what to expect but I was grateful for the opportunity. So I went with the intention of being the best team player I could be, ready to share my experience and knowledge. It turned out to be the best decision I ever made. I couldn't be more grateful for the way I was received by the team. People really made an effort to help me find my way and feel at home in my new country." (netherlandsnewslive.com, 23 Jan 2021; Player's Own Voice podcast, 29 Sep 2020; Speed Skating Canada YouTube channel, 29 Jan 2020; cbc.ca, 09 Feb 2017; schaatsflits.nl, 29 Oct 2014; sirc.ca, 27 Oct 2014)
"I hired my old coach, Bart Schouten back this season - we worked together for 10 years and then we had a one year break. We have formed an international team of 10. We are based in Calgary. I am the only Canadian." (Athlete, December 2025)
He loved skating on frozen rivers and lakes as a child, so his parents took him to a speed skating club. "I grew up in the Netherlands, what else could I do?"
Bart Schouten
