Wednesday, February 18 2026 -An Olympic coach has been accused of s£xism in his congratulatory speech about a Dutch speed skater.
Femke Kok, 25, won gold in the 500m race at the Winter
Olympics, and later on in the day, her trainer Dennis van der Gun, 47, was
singing her praises in front of other members of the team.
During his speech about Kok at the team HQ, he said: 'I
think I speak for everyone in the Netherlands, and I'm incredibly proud of you
for what you've accomplished.
'I was just thinking... You've now won 23 World Cups in a
row, three world titles in a row, and now an Olympic title. I thought:
"what more could you want? What doesn't she have yet?" Well, there's
one thing she doesn't have yet, and that's a really nice boyfriend!'
The coach was reportedly booed in the crowd as he made the
statement, but Kok laughed off the awkward joke.
However, Van Der Gun was dragged online for what they saw as
a cheap sexist jibe.
One wrote: 'No way that something like that would ever be
said to a man', while another added that 'sexism is still not over in 2026.'
But Kok herself came out swinging in defence of her coach
with a lengthy explanation of her feelings on Instagram.
She wrote: 'We had a great tribute in the team NL home of my
GOLD medal! My coach Dennis has spoken a lot of kind words there.
'Unfortunately, a joke that the team NL house and I found
funny, was misinterpreted online.
'Which really doesn't make any sense and was just well
intended. Unbelievable...
'Dennis has a huge share in my gold medal and if there's
anyone with whom I feel completely comfortable and respected as a woman, it's
him.'He’s a great coach and human being. My night and everyone else's in the
Team NL house was amazing. Let's be more friendly online and stop shouting
things about people you don't know.
'I'm grateful to my coach for everything ❤️
(even for all the sweet messages in my DM's (this is a joke).'
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