Ben Staartjes facts for kids
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname(s) | Benny, Big Ben | ||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Dutch | ||||||||||||||||
| Born | 9 December 1928 Amsterdam, Netherlands |
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| Died | 17 March 2014 (aged 85) Kapellen, Belgium |
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| Height | 1.72 m (5.6 ft) | ||||||||||||||||
| Sailing career | |||||||||||||||||
| Class(es) | Tempest; Star | ||||||||||||||||
| Club | Koninklijke Watersport Vereniging Loosdrecht | ||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| Updated on 18 March 2014. | |||||||||||||||||
Bernard "Ben" Staartjes (born December 9, 1928, in Amsterdam, Netherlands – died March 17, 2014, in Kapellen, Belgium) was a talented sailor from the Netherlands. He was known for representing his country in the Olympic Games. Ben competed in two Olympic sailing events during his career.
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Ben Staartjes: An Olympic Sailor
Ben Staartjes was a dedicated sailor who loved being on the water. He trained hard to compete at the highest level. His passion for sailing led him to represent the Netherlands in the Olympic Games.
Competing in the Olympics
Ben Staartjes first competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics. These games were held in Kiel, Germany. He sailed in a type of boat called a Tempest. His teammate, or crew, for this event was Cees Kurpershoek. Together, they sailed very well and finished in 5th place. This was a great achievement for them.
Four years later, Ben Staartjes returned to the Olympics. He represented the Netherlands again at the 1976 Summer Olympics. He still sailed in the Tempest class. This time, his crew was Ab Ekels. They worked together to achieve an 8th place finish.
Beyond the Tempest Boat
After his Olympic appearances in the Tempest, Ben Staartjes continued his sailing career. He became very skilled in another type of sailboat. This boat was called the Star. The Star is a well-known racing sailboat.
Leading the Dutch Olympic Team
Ben Staartjes also played an important role off the water. In 1980, he became the "Chef de Equipe" for the Dutch Olympic Sailing Team. This means he was the team leader or manager. He helped guide the sailors at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Tallinn.
The 1980 Olympics were special for Dutch sailing. It was the first time the Netherlands had sailors competing in every single Olympic sailing event. Ben Staartjes helped make this happen. It remains the only time this has occurred for the Netherlands in Olympic sailing history.
Ben Staartjes dedicated his life to sailing. He was a respected competitor and a valuable leader for his country's Olympic teams.
