Pieter van der Kruk facts for kids
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Born | 13 August 1941 Delft, Netherlands |
| Died | 4 June 2020 (aged 78) Delft |
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Weight | 131 kg (289 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Weightlifting, athletics |
| Event(s) | Shot put, discus throw |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | SP – 17.09 m (1967) |
Pieter "Piet" van der Kruk (born August 13, 1941 – died June 4, 2020) was a famous Dutch athlete. He was a very strong weightlifter and also competed in the shot put. The shot put is an athletics event where athletes throw a heavy ball as far as they can.
Piet van der Kruk was known for his strength and skill in both sports. He achieved many great things during his career.
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A Champion in Two Sports
Piet van der Kruk was a top athlete in two different sports. He was a heavyweight weightlifter, meaning he competed in the heaviest weight class. He also excelled at the shot put.
National Titles and Records
Piet won many national championships in the Netherlands. He earned five national titles in weightlifting. These wins happened in 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, and 1969.
He also won four national titles in the shot put. These were in 1964, 1965, 1967, and 1969. From 1967 to 1976, Piet held the national record for the shot put. This means he threw the shot put farther than anyone else in the Netherlands during that time.
Competing at the Olympics
Piet van der Kruk had the chance to compete in the 1968 Summer Olympics. This big event took place in Mexico City. He qualified for the Olympics in both shot put and weightlifting.
However, he chose to focus only on weightlifting at the Olympics. He finished in ninth place in his weightlifting event. This was a great achievement on the world stage.
Life After Competing
After he stopped competing, Piet van der Kruk continued to be involved in sports. He used his experience to help other athletes.
Coaching and Leadership
Piet became a national coach for weightlifting. He helped train and guide new generations of weightlifters in the Netherlands.
From 1988 to 1998, he was part of the Dutch Olympic Committee. This committee helps organize sports and supports Dutch athletes for the Olympic Games.
Between 1998 and 2002, he led an organization called NeCeDo. This group worked to prevent doping in sports. Doping is when athletes use banned substances to improve their performance. Piet helped ensure fair play in sports.
Sports Commentator
Later in his life, Piet van der Kruk also worked as a TV sports commentator. He shared his knowledge and passion for sports with viewers on Eurosport. This allowed him to stay connected to the world of sports.
Piet van der Kruk passed away on June 4, 2020, in Delft, the same city where he was born. He is remembered as a dedicated athlete and a valuable contributor to Dutch sports.
