Rintje Ritsma

Rintje Ritsma
Rintje Ritsma in 2006
Personal information
NicknameBeer van Lemmer
NationalityDutch
Born (1970-04-13) 13 April 1970
Lemmer, Netherlands
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight93 kg (205 lb)
Websitewww.rintjeritsma.nl
Sport
Country Netherlands
SportSpeed skating
Turned pro1988
Retired2008
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)500 m: 38.90 (1999)
1000 m: 1:10.19 (1999)
1500 m: 1:45.86 (2002)
3000 m: 3:49.29 (2004)
5000 m: 6:20.26 (2005)
10 000 m: 13:28.19 (1998)
Medal record
Speed skating
Representing  Netherlands
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 0 2 4
World Allround 4 2 3
World Distance 2 2 1
European Allround 6 2 2
Total 12 8 10
Olympic Games
1994 Lillehammer1,500 m
1998 Nagano5,000 m
1994 Lillehammer5,000 m
1998 Nagano1,500 m
1998 Nagano10,000m
2006 TurinTeam pursuit
World Allround Championships
1995 Baselga di Pinèallround
1996 Inzellallround
1999 Hamarallround
2001 Budapestallround
1998 Heerenveenallround
2003 Gothenburgallround
1993 Hamarallround
1994 Gothenburgallround
2000 Milwaukeeallround
World Single Distance Championships
1997 Warsaw1,500 m
1997 Warsaw5,000 m
1998 Calgary5,000 m
1997 Warsaw10,000m
1999 Heerenveen1,500 m
European Allround Championships
1994 Hamarallround
1995 Heerenveenallround
1996 Heerenveenallround
1998 Helsinkiallround
1999 Heerenveenallround
2000 Hamarallround
1997 Heerenveenallround
2003 Heerenveenallround
1992 Heerenveenallround
1993 Heerenveenallround

Robert Rintje Ritsma (born 13 April 1970) is a Dutch former long track speed skater. His nickname is the Beer van Lemmer, which translates to the "Bear from Lemmer", analogous to Igor Zhelezovski's nickname "The Bear from Minsk", both of which are in reference to their imposing physical appearance.

He appeared in the Dutch version of The Masked Singer as the Springbok.

In October 2022 Ritsma started as the Dutch national speed skating coach of the team pursuit, team sprint, and the mass start.