Marjolein van Unen appointed as president in the Netherlands

Former Dutch women’s head coach Marjolein van Unen has been appointed as president of the Dutch Judo Association. Van Unen who achieved numerous successes as athlete and coach such the team world title in 2010.

During the General Assembly, three new board candidates were nominated by the selection committees and presented to the members. Marjolein van Unen (chair), Jeroen de Wit (treasurer), and Gilbert Wils (general board member) were officially appointed to their positions, with immediate effect. 

Van Unen, recently awarded the eighth Dan has played a significant role in both national and international judo. She was the first Dutch female judoka to win a European title and became the first female national coach for judo in the Netherlands and worldwide, a position she held for 18.5 years from 1997-2015. She won six Olympic medals with the Dutch women. In addition, Van Unen has extensive entrepreneurial experience, including founding her own sports center.  

As an athlete Van Unen (62) was European Champion in 1982, 1984 and 1985. She won six world championships medals. National women’s coach of the Netherlands from 1997-2015 winning two world titles, 6 Olympic medals and the World and European team title.

She was coached by Chris de Korte since her 18th and shared many successes also as a coach with his knowlegde. 

Jeroen de Wit has been practicing judo since the age of seven. He is a two-time medalist at the Dutch National Judo Championships (individual) and won the national team championship in 2004. Gilbert Wils has been involved in various Budo sports, including judo, since the age of three. 

With these three board positions filled, the work of the continuity committee, which had been temporarily managing the federation since mid-December 2024, will come to an end. However, JBN is still seeking candidates for two remaining vacancies: a general board member and a board member focusing on elite sports and talent development.  

Thomas van Gestel, chair of the continuity committee, stated: "I congratulate the newly appointed board members. Together with the rest of the committee, we will ensure a smooth, careful, and warm transition to safeguard the continuity and quality of the organisation."

This week Guillaume Elmont was appointed as director of elite sports.