Bob de Jong, the Netherlands-born coach for South Korean speed skating at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, is set to leave the country later this week, with his contract expiring on Wednesday, the sport's national federation said.
The Korea Skating Union added it is also considering an extension of de Jong's deal, depending on the opinions of skaters and other coaches.
"Bob de Jong is returning to the Netherlands for visa-related matters, but we'll continue to talk," a KSU official said. "The Olympics just ended, and so we'll have to start gathering opinions (from the athletes and coaches)."
De Jong, who counts the 10,000-meter gold medal at Torino 2006 among his four Olympic medals, joined the South Korean staff last year. Having mostly worked with long-distance skaters, de Jong helped the country grab seven medals during PyeongChang 2018, a national record for a single Winter Olympics and second most of any country at PyeongChang behind only his native Netherlands.
South Korea speed skating coach Bob de Jong (L) embraces skater Lee Seung-hoon after Lee won gold medal in the men`s mass start at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics at Gangneung Oval in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, on Feb. 24. (Yonhap)
MOST POPULAR