Renate Groenewold
A Dutch athlete who mastered speed on ice and asphalt, claiming world titles in speed skating before switching to professional cycling.
Born 1976 (age 50)·Dutch speed skater and cyclist·Birthday: October 8·Generation X
Biography
Renate Groenewold's athletic career is a story of dual excellence. She first made her mark on the international stage as a long track speed skater, specializing in the middle distances. Her powerful, efficient stride earned her major accolades, including a world championship title. Known for her strength and tactical intelligence in races, she was a consistent force throughout the 2000s. In a remarkable second act, Groenewold transitioned to professional road cycling after her speed skating retirement, bringing her exceptional endurance and competitive drive to a new sport. She competed for several years with a Dutch professional team, demonstrating a rare capacity to excel at the highest level in two distinct endurance sports. Her career defies single-sport specialization, highlighting an extraordinary athletic adaptability.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Renate was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Renate Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Renate's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
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 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the gold medal in the 3000m at the 2004 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships.
- Won a silver medal in the 3000m at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.
- Became a professional road cyclist, racing for the Team Flexpoint squad.
Did You Know?
She holds a degree in human movement sciences from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
She is married to fellow Dutch Olympic speed skater Jan Bos.
Her second given name, Titzia, is Frisian.
“The ice and the road both demand a perfect rhythm and total focus.”
