Antoinette Rijpma de Jong Husband: Who Is Coen Rijpma?

For Dutch speed skater Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong, the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics provided the stage for her crowning achievement, as she finally secured the one accolade missing from her illustrious career. Central to her moment of ultimate glory was the quiet, steadfast presence of her family, most notably her husband, whose unrestrained joy offered a touching subplot to her athletic achievement. This article explores the life of the Olympic champion, her relationship with her husband, and the remarkable journey that led her to gold in 2026.

Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong Husband

Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong’s husband is Coen Rijpma. The partner of the Olympic champion is Coen Rijpma, a former cyclist born on January 25, 1994, who now works as a healthcare coach . Their relationship began in 2019, and after getting engaged a year later, the couple married in the summer of 2022 .

Coen Rijpma has been a consistent presence in her corner throughout her career, celebrating her successes and providing support through the challenges inherent in high-level competition. The couple resides in Rottum, the Netherlands, where they have built their life together .

A Shared Athletic Background

What makes the partnership between Antoinette and Coen particularly special is their shared understanding of elite athletics. Coen competed professionally in cycling, participating in various events including road racing and track cycling . His background as an athlete himself gives him a unique understanding of the dedication, sacrifice, and mental fortitude required to compete at the world level. This mutual appreciation for the demands of professional sport has allowed them to support each other through the inevitable ups and downs of their respective athletic journeys .

The couple’s shared athletic values extend beyond mere understanding—they actively support each other’s endeavors. In a remarkable display of partnership, Coen took on a physical challenge of his own to support his wife’s charitable vision. During the summer of 2025, he cycled the route of the Tour de France on his own, stage by stage, to raise funds for the Antoinette Foundation, a cause deeply personal to his wife . This extraordinary effort demonstrated not only his commitment to her mission but also his willingness to use his own athletic background for a greater purpose.

A Proud Husband’s Viral Moment

The depth of Coen Rijpma’s support was on full display for a global audience following Antoinette’s victory in the women’s 1500-meter speed skating event on February 20, 2026 . After years of searching for an Olympic gold medal to add to her collection of silvers and bronzes, the 30-year-old skater finally achieved her dream, clocking a winning time of 1 minute, 54.09 seconds and holding off competition from Norway’s Ragne Wiklund and Canada’s Valerie Maltais . The victory was a culmination of years of hard work and marked her first Olympic gold and sixth career Olympic medal, adding to her previous silvers and bronzes from the 2018 and 2022 Games .

As the realization of her victory set in, cameras captured the reaction of her family in the stands. Coen Rijpma was seen galloping straight to his in-laws, jumping into a group hug with tears welling in his eyes . His emotional and proud reaction as he watched his wife achieve her lifelong goal quickly resonated with viewers online, winning the hearts of many who witnessed the genuine moment of familial pride.

Later, he took to social media to express his feelings, sharing a message that conveyed how beyond proud he was of what she had accomplished, especially considering the tough obstacles she had navigated on her path to gold .

More Than a Skater: A Multifaceted Life

Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong’s story extends far beyond the ice rink. Born on April 6, 1995, in Heerenveen, Netherlands, she grew up in a family passionate about sport . Her younger sister, Michelle de Jong, has also represented the Netherlands in speed skating, specializing in sprint distances and becoming junior world champion in the 1000 meters in 2019 . The competitive spirit between the sisters was fostered by their parents, who were themselves accomplished in equestrian sport .

Interestingly, before committing fully to speed skating, Antoinette was a talented horse rider who considered pursuing a career in equestrian sport. She received her first pony at age four and won two national titles in pony riding competitions . At age 15, she faced the difficult choice between her two passions. She explained that sometimes she had two competitions in one day and would almost faint on the ice with fatigue from getting up so early.

She chose speed skating because she couldn’t delay a skating career, but she always kept the option open to return to equestrian sport after her skating career ends . She has also competed in road cycling, adding another dimension to her athletic profile .

A Champion’s Victory and a Broader Mission

Beyond the personal milestone, Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong’s gold medal win was a significant moment for the Dutch contingent at the Games. Her victory contributed to the Netherlands’ dominant performance in speed skating, adding to gold medals won by Femke Kok in the 500m and Jutta Leerdam in the 1000m .

Across both short track and long track speed skating, the Netherlands amassed 10 gold medals, becoming the best-performing nation in the sport for the first time since 1968 . Competing in her fourth Olympic Games, having debuted at age 18 in Sochi 2014, her career haul now stands impressively at one gold, two silvers, and three bronzes .

In the aftermath of her victory, Antoinette’s comments revealed that this win was about more than just sports. She spoke about her difficult childhood, during which she was bullied for her red, curly hair to the point that her self-confidence became nonexistent and life felt unpleasant . By the eighth grade, she began dyeing her hair black. It was only at age 24 that she dared to embrace her natural hair color again with the help of a psychologist . Speed skating provided the light she needed during that dark period, bringing her joy and focus .

She has since channeled this experience into founding the Antoinette Foundation, which carries a clear mission: a world without bullying. The foundation uses sport to help children escape the awful circumstances created by bullies and regain their self-confidence, just as skating helped her . Following her gold medal race, she shared a powerful message of perseverance, stating that if one keeps dreaming and fighting for what they want, they can truly achieve something, reminding others that there is always light at the end of the tunnel, even when times are tough .

Her victory was especially meaningful because she had restructured her training approach, joining the sprinters of Team Reggeborgh and preparing specifically for the Olympic qualification tournament where she surprised everyone by beating world champion Joy Beune to secure her spot . Despite a false start in her gold medal race and some mistakes along the way, her time of 1:54.09 held as favorite Miho Takagi of Japan finished sixth .

A Champion’s Perspective

Reflecting on her victory, Antoinette expressed that winning gold on the 1500 meters, which she does not even consider her best distance, felt bizarre and unreal . She had earlier stated that she felt she had not yet extracted everything from skating, a belief that kept her motivated year after year . The support of the orange-clad Dutch fans, who created a wall of sound throughout her race, contributed to what she described as the feeling one loves most, comparable to skating in the Netherlands .

The champion also reflected on the razor-thin margin of victory—just 0.06 seconds ahead of silver medalist Ragne Wiklund—noting that while it was very close, it was enough, and that was what mattered .

Conclusion

The story of Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong’s first Olympic gold medal is a powerful reminder that athletic success is often a shared journey. While her talent and determination propelled her across the finish line in Milano, the emotional reaction of her husband, Coen Rijpma, underscored the vital role of personal support systems in achieving such greatness. His pride was a reflection of their shared journey from their meeting in 2019 to that triumphant moment in 2026.

As Antoinette uses her platform to inspire others and advocate against bullying through her foundation, she does so with the support of a partner who has proven to be her most devoted fan—a man who not only cheers from the stands but cycles the Tour de France to support her dreams of a better world for children . Their partnership exemplifies how shared values, mutual athletic understanding, and unwavering support can create the foundation for extraordinary achievement.