Merel Conijn

Merel Conijn
Conijn in 2022
Personal information
NationalityDutch
Born (2001-10-19) 19 October 2001
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Sport
Country Netherlands
SportSpeed skating
Events
1500 m, 3000 m, 5000 m
ClubTeam Novus
Turned pro
2021
Medal record
Women's speed skating
Representing the  Netherlands
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place2026 Milano Cortina5000 m
World Single Distances Championships
Bronze medal – third place2025 Hamar3000 m
Bronze medal – third place2025 Hamar5000 m
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place2020 Tomaszów MazowieckiTeam pursuit
Bronze medal – third place2020 Tomaszów Mazowiecki1500m
Bronze medal – third place2020 Tomaszów Mazowiecki3000m
Bronze medal – third place2020 Tomaszów MazowieckiMass start

Merel Conijn (born 19 October 2001) is a Dutch allround speed skater.

Career

Conijn won the Dutch Junior Allround Championships in 2019. She won the gold medal in the team pursuit event at the 2020 World Junior Speed Skating Championships in Tomaszów Mazowiecki together with Robin Groot and Femke Kok. Conijn won the 2022 Dutch Allround Championships which qualified her for the 2022 World Allround Championships in Hamar. [1]

In 2021 she became a member of Team Worldstream-Corendon.[2] One year later, she moved to Team Jumbo-Visma,[3] before switching to Team AH Zaanlander in 2024.[4]

In February 2026, Conijn represented the Netherlands at the 2026 Winter Olympics in the 3000 metres and 5000 metres events. She made her Olympic debut on 7 February, when she finished ninth in the 3000 m.[5] Five days later, she won a silver medal in the 5000 m event, finishing just one-tenth of a second behind gold medallist Francesca Lollobrigida.[6]

Following the 2025–26 season, Conijn left Team AH Zaanlander to join international speed skating squad Team Novus, coached by Johan de Wit.[7][8]

Records

Personal records

Personal records[9]
Speed skating
Event Result Date Location Notes
500 m39.1715 January 2022Thialf, Heerenveen
1000 m1:18.179 October 2021Max Aicher Arena, Inzell
1500 m1:55.8429 December 2024Thialf, Heerenveen
3000 m3:56.6915 February 2025Thialf, Heerenveen
5000 m6:41.482 November 2025Thialf, Heerenveen

At the end of the 2024–25 season, Conijn occupied the 17th position on the Adelskalender with a score of 157.927 points[10]

Tournament overview


Season		 Dutch
Championships
Single
Distances		 Dutch
Championships
Allround		 European
Championships
Single
Distances		 European
Championships
Allround		 World
Championships
Single
Distances		 World
Championships
Allround		 World
Championships
Sprint		 World
Cup		 Dutch
Championships
Junior
Allround		 World
Championships
Junior

2019–20
Junior WC
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3000m
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Team Pursuit
ENSCHEDE
Junior A
4th 500m
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 1500m
7th 1000m
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3000m
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) overall
TOMASZOW MAZOWIECKI
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 1500m
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 3000m
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Mass start
1st place, gold medalist(s) Team pursuit

2020–21
HEERENVEEN
7th 3000m
6th 5000m		HEERENVEEN
9th 500m
17th 3000m
8th 1500m
DNS 5000m
NC11 overall

2021–22
HEERENVEEN
17th 1500m
7th 3000m
6th 5000m
11th Mass start
HEERENVEEN
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 500m
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3000m
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1500m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 5000m
1st place, gold medalist(s) overall
HAMAR
11th 500m
6th 3000m
4th 1500m
6th 5000m
6th overall

References

  1. ↑ "Dutch Allround Championships 2022". SpeedSkatingNews.info.
  2. ↑ "Merel Conijn sluit zich aan bij Team Worldstream". Schaatsen.nl (in Dutch). 15 March 2021.
  3. ↑ "Jumbo-Visma versterkt zich met langeafstandstalent Merel Conijn". AD.nl (in Dutch). 30 March 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "Albert Heijn Zaanlander vindt nieuwe allroundster in Merel Conijn". schaatsen.nl (in Dutch). 28 March 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Conijn overweldigd door olympische rit in Milaan: 'Moest bij inrijden bijna huilen'". nu.nl (in Dutch). 7 February 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Conijn pakt olympisch zilver na zenuwslopende ontknoping, Lollobrigida fractie sneller". nos.nl (in Dutch). 12 February 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "Schaatsster Conijn vertrekt bij ploeg Anema, paar maanden na olympische medaille". nos.nl (in Dutch). 22 May 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Conijn naar internationale schaatsploeg Novus, waar De Wit aan het roer komt". nos.nl (in Dutch). 28 May 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Merel Conijn". Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  10. ↑ "Adelskalendern". evertstenlund.se. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
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