E64 - Jan Achterberg, Former Long Track Speed Skater

The Christians in Sport Podcast

Jan is a former long track and marathon speed skater, now working for Next Move Sports Ministries in the Netherlands. Jan decided to retire from skating at 22 because he struggled to connect his Christian faith with his passion for sport, yet now he helps top-level athletes to think through how they can combine faith in Christ with competing at the top level of sport.
Listen to find out how Jan's perspective shifted as he worked through what it means to be a Christian and a sportsperson.
Find out more about Next Move Sports Ministries 👉 https://nextmovesport.nl/
(0:00) Intro and Jan's bio
(0:50) Refinding faith and retiring from professional sport
(5:24) What's it like to be a pro speed skater?
(7:00) The toughest speed skating race that almost never happens
(9:35) What changed that meant Jan finally connected sport and faith?
(14:27) Can church and elite sport really fit together?
(19:25) The biggest issues that face Christian elite athletes today
(20:49) Elite sport and fragile identity
(22:20) What does it like to live as a Christian in an individual sport
(24:25) Getting into ultra-running and discovering that sport can be worship
(26:13) Sharing faith in the ultra-running community