Kai Wennemars: Olympic Dreams & Family Support

Like father, like son? That saying could easily apply today when we talk about Erben and Joep Wennemars. While father Erben competed three times in the Olympic Games,it is now up to his son to qualify for the largest global sports tournament in the 1,000 meters.

You would say that Wennemars senior and junior were nervous in the run-up to that distance, but that is not the reality, or so they say.

“The Olympic Games? I think it is really out of proportion how big that competition is made compared to a World Cup. It is indeed really commercial,” says the 23-year-old world champion in the 1,000 meters after his first distance at the Staatsloterij Olympic qualifying tournament (OKT).

The 500 meters was that first distance.After two laps, Wennemars posted a time of 34.48 on Saturday. He had never been that fast in Thialf and it meant a third fastest time and already a place in the matrix. It also ensured that father Erben stood in the stands after the finish, first clapping and then cheering with both arms in the air.

But young Wennemars is not there yet. third place in the 500 meters is low in the matrix and so he has to work hard for qualification in the 1,000 meters. If he qualifies there, it is also likely that he will ride the 500 meters in Milan.

“I am here to qualify. It would be great if I could imitate my father, but that is not my focus. I have to ride a good ride and it will be exciting enough, because there are a lot of good skaters. Such a good 500 meters gives a nice confirmation.”

If your father participates in the Games three times and falls the first time, “doesn’t deliver” the second time, as Erben himself puts it, and comes home with two bronze medals the third time (achieved in Turin in 2006), then you would say that there must have been plenty of discussions about the Games at the dinner table in recent years. But nothing could be further from the truth, says Erben.

“It wasn’t a topic of conversation in our house.Becoming world champion is a bigger theme with us.”

But still, it would make father Wennemars proud if his 23-year-old son could start in Milan in February. “I hope that my child will do well, that’s what every parent wants. It’s another step up in his career.”

Despite Erben’s own experiences, he will not be able to help his son get that Olympic ticket, the former skater thinks. “My experiences are from a long time ago and if I talk about it, I will fill in things for him and that is perilous. The situation is completely different now.”

Father Wennemars believes that Joep shoudl mainly draw from his own ‘toolbox’.”He has to grab the attributes he needs. I can’t indicate whether he should grab scissors, pliers or a hammer. Maybe he doesn’t need the hammer at all. As a father, you have to let it go.It’s about the clock and it doesn’t lie. I have no influence on that at all.”

And letting go is also easier if you have complete confidence in your son. “I have no nerves at all now. Joep is fit and healthy and as a father you just hope that he can show the best version of himself when it matters. There is nothing holding him back and it is now up to him.”

And if it is indeed not possible to achieve qualification, that will be a shame for Joep himself.

“Of course I wish my son the best, but in the end it’s about unconditional love. Whether he makes it or not, he will still be welcome at home. And in addition, I have always told him that the life of a top athlete is a series of disappointments with the occasional highlight. And if losing doesn’t hurt, you are not worth winning.It’s all part of the game.”

But Joep’s intention is that the 2026 Games will become a topic of discussion at the dinner table. “The Games are mainly a thing at home if I win something. My father has never won anything (gold, ed.) at the games, so that is certainly a topic.”