The Dutch Athletics Federation and Technical Director Vincent Kortbeek will not extend their collaboration. Both parties agree that a different type of leadership is needed to take the Federations elite sports program to the next phase. Over the past two and a half years, Vincent Kortbeek has guided many highlights of the Dutch team, and after the overwhelming European Athletics Indoor Championships at home, it is a natural and right moment to part ways.
Vincent Kortbeek: “We started this journey in 2022, knowing that I wasn’t a seasoned Technical Director for a large and complex program like Dutch elite athletics. I entered with full energy and was able to make a positive contribution to the strong foundation that was already in place. However, to take the elite sports program to the next level, a different type of person is needed.”
The Dutch Athletics Federation thanks Kortbeek for his work in recent years. Pieke de Zwart: "With Vincent’s appointment, our Federation gained a more approachable face. He also guided a period of unprecedented international successes, with the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, along with the 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, being the absolute highlights." The Dutch Federation will now begin searching for a new Technical Director. In the meantime, an interim Elite Sports Manager will be appointed to guide the elite sports program towards the upcoming World Championships in September.