Dutch skating stars appeal for help finding missing Olympian Sven Roes

Several Dutch speed skating stars have shared appeals for information after 26-year-old short track skater Sven Roes was reported missing. Fellow athletes, including brothers Jens and Melle van 't Wout, Xandra Velzeboer and Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong, have posted messages on social media asking the public to help locate him.

As of Monday, Roes has been missing for over 41 hours. Police confirmed they have received a missing person report concerning Sven Roes and are investigating the case. A spokesperson said it is too early to confirm whether he is officially considered missing.

The family has expressed growing concern for his immediate well-being and is actively appealing for anyone with information to contact the authorities. The missing person's notification details that Roes is a white male with short blond hair (slightly longer on top).

The social media appeal says Roes was last seen on Saturday at a Shell petrol station in Muiden. He had reportedly left Oosterzee, in the province of Friesland, at 3:15 p.m. in a white TeamNL-branded Mitsubishi ASX. According to the post, the last known contact with the 26-year-old came at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday evening.

"We were deeply shocked to hear that Sven Roes has been reported missing," the Dutch skating federation (KNSB) said in a statement. "Sven is a member of TeamNL Short Track. We are staying in contact with his family and hope to have positive news soon. Out of respect for the family's privacy, we will not comment on questions or speculation. We wish Sven's girlfriend and family strength during this uncertain time."

Roes is an elite speed skater from Gytsjerk, Friesland. He represented the Netherlands at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, finishing 14th in the individual 1500m and 7th with the relay team. Later that same year, he won a silver medal with the Dutch men's relay team at the World Championships.

His career has been heavily plagued by severe injuries. After undergoing a lengthy rehabilitation for a hip injury, he successfully bounced back to win silver in the 1500m at the 2025 European Championships. However, subsequent back and recurring hip issues forced him to undergo surgery in early January, ultimately costing him his spot at the Olympic Winter Games.