NOS Sport•
Now that the gala dresses and tuxedos can go to the dry cleaners, the most remarkable moments of the NOC*NSF Sports Gala 2025 come back to mind. Such as the call from Coach of the Year Sarina Wiegman, the emotional speech from Parasportsman of the Year Niels Vink and (in the afterthoughts) the secure future of Sportswoman of the Year Jessica Schilder and Jorinde van Klinken.
An overview in three moments.
Wiegman’s call: ‘Come on girls, start coaching’
As the first woman ever to become Coach of the Year, Sarina Wiegman immediately had a clear message. “Come on girls, start coaching,” she said in her thank you speech.
“About fifty years ago I wanted to play football. But girls couldn’t play football and I did it anyway. You couldn’t become a professional football player, you couldn’t become a professional coach. And so much has happened in those fifty years.”
Wiegman, who said she felt honored by the election, quickly listed her major successes in women’s football: European Championship win with the Netherlands in 2017, European Championship win in 2022 with England and European Championship win with England in 2025.
“But what’s even best: that so many people come to the stadiums. That hundreds of thousands of people watch women’s football and have fun. That is incredibly special. I am very happy to be part of that.”
Watch Wiegman’s speech here:
Wiegman was the first woman elected Coach of the Year: ‘Come girls, start coaching’
“I hope I inspire many people. Above all, girls and women,” said Wiegman. “Because being a coach is a very nice profession. And there are still too few women who are coaches.”
“I hope that I inspire women and girls to start coaching. Come on, girls, start coaching, it is such a beautiful profession. Bringing people together, getting the most out of yourself and your team, no matter what level you work at.”
“It is a tremendous honor to receive this award.”
Emotional speech from Vink: ‘This one is for you, boss’
Wheelchair tennis player Niels Vink knew exactly what he wanted to say, but the emotions were too great when he actually won the award for Parasportsman of the Year. With fewer words than he had planned, but still beautiful, the tribute to his late coach was impressive.
Vink won Wimbledon and the US Open in 2025 and played two more Grand Slam finals, but the death of his “best friend and coach” Hans-Jurgen Striek overshadowed the greatest joy.
“It was a very good year in terms of sport. I am proud of that. Just a little less personally. We will see if we can keep it dry, but I don’t think so.”
Watch Vink’s speech here:
Emotional Vink elected Parasportsman of 2025: ‘This one is for you, boss’
“My trainer passed away in September. I had been training with him since I was fifteen,” Vink said. “I just want to tell you how much he meant to me.”
“I couldn’t have done any of this without him. He’s the one who discovered me. Everything I’ve won so far, including this prize, has been with him. From junior titles to Grand Slams and gold medals, it’s all been with him. To be without him now is strange.”
“But that is why I think it is very special that I can receive this award. With both my parents, but also the family of ‘HJ’. Super special. This is for you, boss.”
New sponsorship contracts for Schilder and Van Klinken
Jorinde van Klinken was not nominated, but the shot putter and discus thrower was present at Papendal as a guest. Her year was already special because of the impressive World Cup silver she won in the discus throw and it became even more remarkable because of the interview immediately afterwards.
Van Klinken made an ardent attempt to open the debate on a rarely discussed topic: the attention for smaller, technical components in athletics and the sponsorship struggle that comes with it. “If I looked like a doll, I would already have a contract worth millions,” she said in Tokyo last summer.
“There are many athletes who struggle with this problem,” she said on Wednesday evening after the Sports Gala. “It is in me to speak out. I think it is good that the conversation about it is opened at some point.” And that worked. There is progress.
Watch the conversation with Van Klinken below:
Sponsorship contract for discus thrower Van Klinken: ‘It will be a very different year financially’
“I find it difficult to say anything about the big picture, but in any case it has yielded a lot to me,” says Van Klinken. “Next year will be a completely different year financially. Also in terms of collaboration with great brands. I am super, super grateful for that. It could have turned out differently after such an interview, but it turned out well.”
As a shot putter, Sportswoman of the Year Jessica Schilder recognizes the struggle that athletes can have on those technical numbers. “It is and remains a difficult subject. As athletes, we are also very dependent on sponsors. I am fortunate that I have a loyal sponsor and he has just extended the contract until the Games in LA.”
“But I also certainly recognize Jorinde’s story and I am very happy that she has finally been given a platform.”
