Annie de Jong-Zondervan

As a child she was good in athletics and won her first prize in the long jump. She became member of the gymnasts and athletics club “Quick” in Huizum and member of the Frisian athletics union. She won several first prizes in the long jump and hurdles. She became Frisian Athletics Union champion. She became with her team nation relay champion.

On 8 December 1925 she won as a speed skater the race of men and women of the 75th anniversary of ice club Leeuwarden in the youngest category. After this race she started competing again the best skaters. She won on 26 January 1926 a third prize in Leeuwarden behind Janna van der Meulen and Martha Wieringa. A poet wrote after this race a poem about her. In 1927 she won in Hardegarijp, lost in Rottevalle and won at the Groote Wielen in Rijperkerk on 31 December 1927 ahead of Janna van der Meulen. On her request she received a gold medal instead of money. On 1 January 1928, she won the women’s race of gymnasts in Akkrum. Two days later she won the competition in Leeuwarden ahead of Trijntje Terpstra, winning 80 Dutch guilder. However, because she never accepted prize money she got a box of silver spoons and a painting. The Leeuwarder Courant published a poem after the competition behind the Prinsentuin about “Annie”. On 29 January 1929 she lost to Janna van der Meulen in Zwolle and finished second after she fell in the first.

After her career she received for all she did for the speed skating sport the “J.D. de Jongpenning” from the Koninklijke Vereniging De Friesche Elf Steden.[3]