Jorrit Bergsma
A master of endurance on ice, he conquered the grueling 10,000-meter Olympic race and later mastered the tactical chaos of the mass start.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Dutch speed skater·Birthday: February 1·Millennials
Biography
Jorrit Bergsma is the quiet force of Dutch speed skating, a specialist in the sport's most demanding distances. For years, he operated in the shadow of more flamboyant teammates, honing his engine-like consistency. His breakthrough came at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, where he delivered a stunning performance in the 10,000 meters, a race of pure stamina, to claim gold. Bergsma's career is a testament to longevity and adaptation. As his pure endurance peak passed, he brilliantly pivoted to the mass start, a newer, tactical event that combines pack racing with sprint finishes. This evolution culminated in a second Olympic gold at the 2022 Beijing Games, proving his deep racing intelligence and cementing his legacy as one of the most versatile long-distance skaters of his generation.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jorrit was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jorrit Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Jorrit's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Olympic gold medal in the 10,000 meters at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
- Won the Olympic gold medal in the mass start event at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
- Is a multiple-time World Champion in marathon skating on the outdoor circuit.
- Holds the world record in the 10,000 meters, set at the 2021 World Single Distance Championships.
Did You Know?
He is also a competitive marathon skater on natural ice, winning the famous Elfstedentocht alternative race in 2022.
His coach, Jillert Anema, is a former speed skater and soccer player.
He comes from a family of skaters; his brother also competed professionally.
He studied mechanical engineering alongside his skating career.
“The ten thousand meters is a simple race: you against the clock, and your own mind.”
