Femke Kok
Femke Kok is a Dutch speed skater who specializes in sprint distances, especially the 500 metres.
Femke Kok is a Dutch speed skater who specializes in sprint distances, especially the 500 metres. She has won multiple world titles and set the women’s 500-metre world record in 2025. At the 2026 Winter Olympics, she won gold in the 500 metres and silver in the 1,000 metres.
Early life
Femke Kok was born in Drachten and grew up in Nij Beets, in the Netherlands. According to the International Skating Union, she first skated at age two and joined the De Kluners club around age seven or eight.
Career
Kok emerged as one of the leading women’s sprint skaters in international competition. She became world champion in the 500 metres in 2023 and repeated as champion in 2024 and 2025.
World record and major titles
In November 2025, Kok broke the long-standing women’s 500-metre world record with a time of 36.09 seconds in Salt Lake City. She also won Olympic gold in the 500 metres and silver in the 1,000 metres at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Olympic results
Kok finished sixth in the 500 metres at the 2022 Winter Olympics. At the 2026 Games, she improved on that result by winning gold in the 500 metres and taking silver in the 1,000 metres.
Key facts
- Femke Kok is a Dutch speed skater specializing in the 500 metres.
- She won the women’s 500 metres at the World Single Distances Championships in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
- She set the women’s 500-metre world record of 36.09 seconds in November 2025.
- At the 2026 Winter Olympics, she won gold in the 500 metres and silver in the 1,000 metres.
- She first skated at age two and joined De Kluners around age seven or eight.
Kok has competed against Canadian speed skaters in World Cup and championship events, and her world-record performances are relevant to Canadian fans following international speed skating.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Femke Kok?
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Did Femke Kok win an Olympic medal?
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References
- International Skating Union — https://isu-skating.com/speed-skating/skaters/femke-kok/Supports: Birth details, early skating history, world titles, world record, and 2022 Olympic result.
- Olympedia — https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/148672Supports: Birthplace, Olympic participation, and 2026 Olympic medal results.
- NBC Olympics — https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/femke-kok-claims-netherlands-first-olympic-500m-gold-milanSupports: 2026 Olympic 500 m gold medal and Olympic-record performance.
- The Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/feb/15/femke-kok-dominates-500m-speed-skating-to-end-jacksons-hopes-of-retaining-olympic-titleSupports: 2026 Olympic 500 m victory and 1,000 m silver medal context.
- Yahoo Sports — https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/meet-femke-kok-netherlands-speed-162614258.htmlSupports: 2025 world record in the 500 m and recent competition context.
- Olympics.com — https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/winter-olympics-2026-femke-kok-jutta-leerdam-speed-skating-500m-previewSupports: World title count, world-record status, and Olympic 2026 preview information.