Tokyo Olympics 2020 | Who are Martina and Oldenboving, bearers of the Dutch flag?

Churandy Martina goes to the games as one of the most experienced athletes. For 37-year-old Martina, the Tokyo Olympics will be his fifth. In 2004 and 2008 he played for the Netherlands Antilles. Since the dissolution of this country in 2010, he has played for the Netherlands. Martina is a typical runner who can run well in both the 100m and 200m.

At these distances, a jubilant Curaçaowan reached the Olympic final five times. In 2008, he came close to receiving a medal. In the 200 metres, he crossed the finish line in second place, but was later disqualified because his foot was in a line. In 2016, he was less than two hundred seconds off the medal at this distance.

In Tokyo, the medal of the Dutch record holder in the 100 and 200 meters does not appear to be in it. The veteran will not compete in the singles distance and will only start the relay race. The Dutch 4x100m team is in its eighth season, which means that Martina is not expected to win a medal.

The contrast between Martina and other Dutch flag bearer Kate Oldenbuffing couldn’t be greater. Where Martina plays in athletics, the “mother of all sports”, skiing, the sport of Oldenbuffing, will be on the Olympic program for the first time in Tokyo 2020. Martina is one of the oldest athletes to travel to Tokyo, while Oldenboving is the youngest Dutch athlete at 16 .

Oldenbuffing, also called the Skate Kit, has always been a big name in skateboarding despite its age. At the 2019 European Championships, she won the European title at the age of fifteen. Partly because of this feat, Matisse de Ligt succeeded in receiving the Talent of the Year award in 2019. A title awarded annually at the NOC*NSF Sports Gala. When she was ten years old, Oldenbeuving actually managed to stand out. In 2015 the short documentary film Skateket On go ahead It follows a strong young skater in the boy-dominated world of skateboarding.

The athlete has participated in the World Cup competitions since she was twelve years old. If Oldenbeuving takes a medal in Tokyo, it can be considered a huge surprise. Candidates come from Japan and Brazil. In addition to Oldenbeuving, Roos Zwetsloot (20) and Candy Jacobs (30) also participate in skateboarding at the Olympics.