Dennis van der Geest
Encyclopedia
Dennis van der Geest (born June 27, 1975) is a Dutch
judoka, who won the bronze medal in the men's heavyweight (+ 100 kg) division at the 2004 Summer Olympics
. He was born in Haarlem
, Noord-Holland.
In 2005, he became world judo champion
in the men's open division by defeating Russian Tamerlan Tmenov
with ippon
in the final. In 2000 and 2002, he became European Champion in the over 100 kg event. He won three bronze medals and one silver medal at previous world championships.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics
, Van der Geest was eliminated in the first round by Tamerlan Tmenov. He sustained a minor fracture during the match when Tmenov fell on his arm, but he was able to finish the fight. Van der Geest planned to finish his Judo career after the 2008 Summer Olympics to pursue a career in the music industry, but after his unexpected defeat, he was quoted as considering entering the World Championship in 2009. However on May 7, 2009 Dennis van der Geest announced his retirement from top sport, owing to his lack of motivation.
Outside his sport he was the ambassador of his favourite football team Feyenoord Rotterdam
in the 2005/06 season. Next to that, he released his first single, "To The Sunshine", on August 8, 2008. This track was released under his stage name of Ippon, and is a collaboration with producer Ronald Molendijk.
His younger brother Elco
is also a judoka competing at the highest level.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
judoka, who won the bronze medal in the men's heavyweight (+ 100 kg) division at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Judo at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Judo at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place in the Ano Liossia Olympic Hall and featured 368 judoka competing for 14 gold medals with seven different weight categories in both the men's and women's competitions. Japan dominated the event by taking 8 gold and 2 silver medals.Gold and silver medals...
. He was born in Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
, Noord-Holland.
In 2005, he became world judo champion
2005 World Judo Championships
The 2005 World Judo Championships were the 24th edition of the Judo World Championships, and were held in Cairo, Egypt from September 8 to September 11, 2005...
in the men's open division by defeating Russian Tamerlan Tmenov
Tamerlan Tmenov
-Achievements:-References:* on JudoInside.com* -External links:* on judovision.org...
with ippon
Ippon
Ippon literally "one full point", it is the highest score a fighter can achieve in a Japanese martial arts ippon-wazari contest, usually judo, karate or jujutsu.-Ippon in judo:...
in the final. In 2000 and 2002, he became European Champion in the over 100 kg event. He won three bronze medals and one silver medal at previous world championships.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
, Van der Geest was eliminated in the first round by Tamerlan Tmenov. He sustained a minor fracture during the match when Tmenov fell on his arm, but he was able to finish the fight. Van der Geest planned to finish his Judo career after the 2008 Summer Olympics to pursue a career in the music industry, but after his unexpected defeat, he was quoted as considering entering the World Championship in 2009. However on May 7, 2009 Dennis van der Geest announced his retirement from top sport, owing to his lack of motivation.
Outside his sport he was the ambassador of his favourite football team Feyenoord Rotterdam
Feyenoord Rotterdam
Feyenoord is a Dutch professional football club located in Rotterdam. Along with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord is one of the "big three" clubs in the Netherlands. These three clubs and Utrecht and Roda JC are the only clubs never to have been relegated from the Dutch first division...
in the 2005/06 season. Next to that, he released his first single, "To The Sunshine", on August 8, 2008. This track was released under his stage name of Ippon, and is a collaboration with producer Ronald Molendijk.
His younger brother Elco
Elco van der Geest
Elco van der Geest is a Dutch-born Belgian judoka. Throughout his career, Elco had been competing on the judo mat under the Netherlands. In August 2009, Elco accepted the request of joining the Belgian team...
is also a judoka competing at the highest level.
External links
- Videos of Dennis van der Geest on Judovision.org