Dutch speed skating legend Ireen Wüst has been appointed as the chef de mission for the Netherlands' delegation at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The Dutch Olympic federation NOC*NSF announced the decision on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Wüst will lead the Dutch team in the United States.
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If the collaboration proves successful, the 40-year-old from Goirle will also retain the role for the 2030 Winter Olympic Games in the French Alps.
Wüst succeeds Pieter van den Hoogenband, who recently left the federation.
Her appointment marks a historic milestone as she becomes the first woman to serve as chef de mission for able-bodied Dutch Olympic athletes.
Previous female appointments for the Paralympic teams were held by Esther Vergeer and Thea Limbach.
Record-Breaking Olympic Career
Wüst is the most decorated Olympian in Dutch history, with six gold, five silver, and two bronze medals.
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She is the only athlete in the world to win a gold medal at five different Winter Olympic Games.
Her career also includes thirteen individual world titles, as well as seven world and five European allround championship titles.
Since April 2023, Wüst has worked at NOC*NSF as an expert in performance behavior and mental health.
In this role, she guides upcoming top athletes within development programs at TeamNL centers.
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She also works as a lifestyle coach at Topsport Noord, one of the regional elite sports centers in the Netherlands.
