A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
| Netherlands at the 2008 Summer Olympics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| IOC code | NED |
| NOC | Dutch Olympic Committee* Dutch Sports Federation |
| Website | www |
| in Beijing | |
| Competitors | 243 in 20 sports |
| Flag bearers | Jeroen Delmee (opening) Maarten van der Weijden (closing) |
| Medals Ranked 11th |
|
| Summer Olympics appearances (overview) | |
| Other related appearances | |
| 1906 Intercalated Games | |
The Netherlands competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, People's Republic of China. This was announced in an official statement on the NOC*NSF website.[1] In the statement they named the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games as a highlight in sports to which a lot of sportspeople, coaches and the Dutch sports fans would look forward. The Netherlands aimed for a top 10 nations ranking in the Olympics as well as a top 25 ranking in the Paralympics; they ended up ranking 12th at the Games.[1]
Further in the statement they announced that they were aware of the political discussions about human rights and other issues in the People's Republic of China and that they encouraged these discussions, but that they would only participate in sports related discussions.[1] They say individual sportspeople, coaches and managers might have their own opinions about the issues but these would always be conveyed as personal opinions deriving from their own social views.[1] They believe sports activities do have the opportunity to positively influence the situation in the People's Republic of China when it comes to implementing the sports rules correctly as well as in situations improving the levels of respect, solidarity and fair play in sports.[1]
There were 243 athletes representing the Netherlands.[2] 15 in athletics, 24 in baseball, 2 in canoeing, 27 in cycling, 8 in equestrian, 2 in fencing, 32 in field hockey, 18 in football, 2 in gymnastics, 10 in judo, 30 in rowing, 12 in sailing, 15 in softball, 21 in swimming, 3 in table tennis, 1 in taekwondo, 2 in triathlon, 6 in volleyball and 13 in water polo. 61 different athletes won a medal, which is 25.10% of all athletes. With a gold and a silver medal Anky van Grunsven was the only multiple medalist. The athletes that qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics are listed below.[3]
Medalists
Ambassadors
The NOC*NSF announced a total of eleven athletes as their official ambassadors in the period before, during and after the Olympics in 2008 until the end of that year.[4] The ambassadors that were chosen were all athletes who had a good chance of qualifying for the Olympics or who had already achieved qualification individually or with their team.[4] They were a mixture of men, women, individual athletes, team athletes, Olympians and Paralympians. Chefs de Mission were Charles van Commenée (Olympics) and Thea Limbach (Paralympics).[4]
The eleven ambassadors were:
- Anky van Grunsven, Equestrian, 2 times gold and 4 times silver at previous Olympics, 2 times World and 4 times European champion.
- Edith Bosch, Judoka, 2004 Summer Olympics silver medallist, World champion and double European champion.
- Kees Luyckx, Footballer.
- Kenny van Weeghel, Wheeler, 2004 Summer Paralympics gold, silver and bronze medallist, 4 times World and 3 times European champion.
- Lobke Berkhout, Sailor, triple 470-class World champion together with De Koning.
- Marcelien de Koning, Sailor, triple 470-class World champion together with Berkhout.
- Marije Smits, Paralympic runner and long jumper, 2002 World champion in long jumping.
- Marleen Veldhuis, Swimmer, 2004 Summer Olympics bronze medallist, 2 times World and 11 times European champion.
- Minke Booij, Field hockey player, silver and bronze at previous Olympics, World champion and triple European champion.
- Rutger Smith, Discus thrower and shot putter, silver (shot put) and bronze (discus) medallist at World championships.
- Theo Bos, Track cyclist, 2004 Summer Olympics silver medallist, 5 times World and 3 times European champion.
Athletics
Dutch athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event at the 'A' Standard, and 1 at the 'B' Standard). Simon Vroemen, who qualified for the steeplechase event, was tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid dianabol in July 2008.[5]
- Key
- Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
- Q = Qualified for the next round
- q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
- NR = National record
- N/A = Round not applicable for the event
- Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
- Men
- Track & road events
| Athlete | Event | Heat | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Final | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | ||
| Robert Lathouwers | 800 m | 1:46.94 | 3 | — | Did not advance | ||||
| Kamiel Maase | Marathon | — | 2:20:30 | 39 | |||||
| Gregory Sedoc | 110 m hurdles | 13.54 | 4 Q | 13.43 | 3 Q | 13.60 | 6 | Did not advance | |
| Marcel van der Westen | 13.50 | 2 Q | 13.48 | 4 q | 13.45 | 6 | Did not advance | ||
| Caimin Douglas Maarten Heisen Guus Hoogmoed Gregory Sedoc Virgil Spier Patrick van Luijk |
4 × 100 m relay | 38.87 | 3 Q | — | DSQ | ||||
- Field events
| Athlete | Event | Qualification | Final | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | Position | Distance | Position | ||
| Rutger Smith | Shot put | 20.13 | 10 Q | 20.41 | 8 |
| Discus throw | 65.65 | 3 Q | 65.39 | 7 | |
- Combined events – Decathlon
| Athlete | Event | 100 m | LJ | SP | HJ | 400 m | 110H | DT | PV | JT | 1500 m | Final | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eugène Martineau | Result | 11.19 | 7.19 | 13.78 | 1.99 | 49.99 | 14.73 | 44.09 | 4.70 | 71.44 | 4:37.96 | 8055 | 13 |
| Points | 819 | 859 | 715 | 794 | 815 | 882 | 748 | 819 | 911 | 693 |
- Women
- Track & road events
| Athlete | Event | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Rank | ||
| Hilda Kibet | 10000 m | 31:29.69 | 15 |
| Lornah Kiplagat | 30:40.27 | 8 | |
- Combined events – Heptathlon