FROM THE OLYMPICS TO THE CIRCUS
Born in Akkrum in Friesland in the Netherlands, her father, Lou Dijkstra, represented his country as a speed skater in the 1936 Winter Olympics. He was also a doctor.
Lou bought Sjoukje her first skating boots for her sixth birthday, along with lessons. “I was six years old and just happy to be on the ice.”
Sjoukje showed so much talent and potential that aged eleven, a proper professional coach was appointed. He was Arnold Gerschwiler. He lived in London, so Sjouke travelled to the UK, staying there for six months.
Gerschwiter, a disciplinarian, was to remain Sjoukje’s coach throughout her figure skating career.
She won her first medal, a bronze, in the Dutch National Championships in the season 1953-54.
That same year she represented the Netherlands in the European Championships, finishing nineteenth.
At the age of just fourteen, Sjoukje was selected to compete in the 1956 Winter Olympics, held at Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy. She came twelfth.
Sjoukje finished runner-up in the national championships for four successive seasons. On each occasion, she was beaten by Joan Haanappel.
Finally, Sjoukje turned the tables in 1958-59, beating Joan into second place.
Joan and Sjoukje were to become lifelong friends.
By now, Sjoukje was nicknamed ‘The Swinging Frisian’.
In 1960, Sjoukje appeared in the Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley, California, and the World Championships, held in Vancouver. On both occasions she came second, beaten by Carol Heiss.
This appearance earned Sjoukje another nickname – ‘Indian Sjoukje’.
Heiss retired in 1960, leaving Sjoukje to become the world’s dominant female figure skater.
By now, she was living in London, training with Arnold Gerschwiler. Very tall for a skater, Sjoukje was extremely powerful and specialised in jumps and flying spins. A magazine article stated, “She is much more slender in person than she appears on the ice.”
Between 1961 and 1964, Sjoukje won every World and European Championship, and six successive Dutch National Championships.
The only exception to this, was the 1961 World Championships which were cancelled after the ‘Sabena Flight 548’ plane crash just outside Brussels, killing the whole of the American women’s skating team.
In 1964, Sjoukje won the Figure Skating gold medal at the Winter Olympics held in Innsbruck and was watched by the Dutch royal family. She is the only woman to win gold in this event after having previously won a ‘lesser’ medal.
She was also the first Dutch athlete to win a gold at the Winter Olympics.
The royals were so impressed, they immediately awarded Sjoukje the ‘Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau’ – the highest award you can get in the Netherlands.
Sjoukje won the Dutch Sportswoman of the Year award six times.
Shortly after this, Sjoukje’s father, Lou, was killed in a road accident.
That same year, Sjoukje turned professional and left the world of competitive figure skating.
After a recommendation from her friend, Joan, Sjoukje joined ‘Holiday on Ice’, a touring company famed for its spectaculars and themed shows. Joan was already a member of the troupe.
Sjoukje stayed with the company for eight years. She was such a star attraction, that it was often known as ‘Circus Sjoukje Dijkstra’.
During a tour of the USA, Sjoukje appeared on the television panel show, ‘To Tell the Truth’. Three of the four panelists correctly identified her as a famous skater.
Sjoukje retired in 1972. Shortly afterwards, she married Karl Kossmayer, a clown who was twenty-five years her senior. He had a comic mule act in the circus and later became a dresser.
The couple had two daughters: Rosalie and Katja.
In later years, Sjoukje became an advisor to the Dutch Skating Federation. She also worked as a television commentator.
Sjoukje’s husband, Karl, died in 2000.
In 2010, Sjoukje became one of two Dutch athletes to have won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics. She was joined by Nicolien Sauerbreij, who won the snowboarding competition.
Sjoukje was given the first Fanny Blankers-Koen Award, given to athletes who have made a significant contribution to sport in the Netherlands.
Sjoukje was also inducted into the Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
Sjoukje died of cancer at her farmhouse in Someren-Eind, aged eighty-two. Her close friend, Joan, had died just two months before her.
At her death, the King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, made a statement. “With her phenomenal jumping power she managed to amaze the skating world and everyone outside of it…She was the first Dutch person ever to win gold at the Winter Olympics – and became a legend. Her fantastic achievements are etched in our memories.”
RIP – Record-breaking Ice Performer
