Rinse Franken in the Team Frysk suit on the long track
The story

Started late, grew fast

Swimming, football, and in 2020 speed skating, almost by accident. What started with a pair of old clap skates became a serious sporting career, now based in Heerenveen.

My name is Rinse Franken and I was born in 2005. Sport has always been a big part of my life: as a kid I swam competitively, later I played football.

In 2020 I took up speed skating almost by accident, when someone gave me a pair of old clap skates. After a short spell with the Y.A. club squad I was offered a trial place with the Breda regional squad. I grabbed that chance with both hands: in 2021 I officially joined the squad and made great progress under coaches Annamarie Thomas and Timo Eussen.

In the 2023/2024 season I was selected for the KNSB Talent Team Zuid, a great opportunity to keep improving and to close the gap to the top.

Now: Team Frysk

I have since moved to Heerenveen and I skate for Team Frysk. As a neo-senior my aim this season is to perform in the Holland Cup series, with qualification for the senior Dutch Allround Championships as my big goal.

It would be amazing to race in front of a packed Thialf one day. That is what I work for every day: on the ice, on the bike, in the gym and on the slide board.

Photos
Rinse Franken in the Team Frysk suit on the long track Rinse Franken leading the paceline in the Team Frysk suit Rinse Franken focused at the front of the paceline Rinse Franken warming up on the ice Rinse Franken low on the ice, the team reflected below Rinse Franken with his hood on, ready to start Rinse Franken cornering ahead of his teammates Rinse Franken on the ice in Thialf Rinse Franken accelerating out of the corner Rinse Franken relaxed after a training session Rinse Franken on the long track during a training run Slide board training at a training camp Rinse Franken on his road bike in the mountains Rinse Franken on the time trial bike Rinse Franken putting on his hood before the start Performance test in the sports lab Rinse Franken in a trio with a powerful arm swing Jump training in the gym Sprint starts during dry-land training