Patrick Roest is a prominent Dutch professional long-track speed skater, widely regarded as one of the most accomplished allrounders in the sport’s modern era.
Born on December 7, 1995, in Lekkerkerk, a village in the South Holland province of the Netherlands, he grew up on his family’s farm, where he continues to work alongside his athletic pursuits.
This rural background has shaped his strong work ethic and discipline, often providing him a mental reset away from the demands of elite competition.
Roest stands at 1.87 meters tall and maintains a focused, grounded lifestyle that balances rigorous training with time spent on the family farm.
Siblings
Patrick comes from a skating-oriented family, with his sister Natasja Roest being a notable figure in the sport.
Natasja is also a professional speed skater, and she played a key role in introducing her younger brother to the ice during their childhood.
Roest has often mentioned that he followed in her footsteps, starting to skate for fun on the frozen water behind their parents’ farm in winter.
Career
Roest began speed skating at the age of seven in the Krimpenerwaard region, initially taking lessons at the STV Lekstreek skating club under coach Dave van Dam.
His talent emerged early, leading to junior success: he claimed the World Junior Allround title in 2014 in Bjugn, Norway, and successfully defended it in 2015 in Warsaw, Poland.
Transitioning to the senior level, he joined the Dutch national team in 2015 and quickly rose through the ranks.
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He competed with Team Jumbo-Visma for several years before switching to Team Reggeborgh in 2022.
Known for his strength in middle- and long-distance events, Roest has excelled in the 1,500m, 5,000m, and 10,000m, while also contributing significantly to team pursuit efforts.
His career highlights include consistent dominance in World Cup events, European championships, and world titles, often showcasing remarkable consistency across the allround format.
Beyond skating, he has participated in marathon speed skating nationally and roller speed skating internationally.
Accolades
Roest is a three-time World Allround Speed Skating Champion, securing consecutive titles in 2018 (Amsterdam), 2019 (Calgary), and 2020 (Hamar), with his 2019 performance setting a notable world record score for the big combination at the time (145.561 points).
In Olympic competition, he earned silver in the men’s 1,500m and bronze in the team pursuit at the 2018 PyeongChang Games, followed by silvers in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2022 Beijing Games.
At the World Single Distances Championships, he has collected multiple golds, including in the 5,000m and team pursuit events across editions in 2021, 2023, and 2024, with one notable achievement being the Netherlands’ 100th world single-distance gold in 2023.
Roest has also claimed two European Allround titles (2021 in Heerenveen and 2023 in Hamar) and numerous European single-distance golds, particularly in the 5,000m and team pursuit.
Domestically, he has dominated Dutch championships with repeated allround and single-distance victories from 2017 onward.
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