Karen Venhuizen

Karen Venhuizen (born 4 April 1984) is a Dutch former competitive figure skater. She is the 2003 Triglav Trophy champion, the 2007 International Challenge Cup champion, and a nine-time (2000–08) Dutch national champion. She qualified for the free skate at seven ISU Championships – two World and five European Championships. Her best placement, 14th, came at the 2008 Europeans.

Karen Venhuizen
Venhuizen in 2007.
Personal information
Country representedNetherlands
Born (1984-04-04) 4 April 1984
Height1.72 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
Former coachSylvia Holtes
Former choreographerSylvia Holtes, Karen Venhuizen
Lisa Michael
Skating clubKCG Groningen
Began skating1989
Retired2008
ISU personal best scores
Combined total126.30
2008 Europeans
Short program45.53
2008 Europeans
Free skate80.77
2008 Europeans

Personal life

Venhuizen was born 4 April 1984 in Zoetermeer, Netherlands.[1] From 2001 to 2003, she suffered from anorexia nervosa.[2][3] After the 2008 European Championships, she was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome.[4][5]

Career

Venhuizen started skating at the age of five. In the 1999–2000 season, she debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) series and then won her first senior national title, earning assignments to her first ISU Championships. In February 2000, she reached the free skate and finished 21st overall at the European Championships in Vienna after placing tenth in her qualifying group, 23rd in the short, and 21st in the free. In March, she competed at the 2000 World Junior Championships in Oberstdorf; she advanced out of her qualifying group but was eliminated after the short program.

Venhuizen made her final junior-level appearances at the start of the 2000–01 season before repeating as the Dutch national senior champion. She qualified for the final segment at both the 2001 European Championships in Bratislava and at the 2001 World Championships in Vancouver.

Venhuizen won gold medals at the 2003 Triglav Trophy in Slovenia and at the 2007 International Challenge Cup in The Hague. Her best ISU Championship result, 14th, came at the 2008 Europeans in Zagreb, Croatia. It was also the highest placement by a Dutch figure skater since Dianne de Leeuw became the European champion in 1976.

Programs
Season Short program Free skating
2007–2008
[1]
2006–2007
[6]
2005–2006
[7]
2004–2005
[8]
2003–2004
[9]
2002–2003
[10]
  • Fire and Ice
    (soundtrack)
    by various composers
  • East of Eden
    (soundtrack)
    by Leonard Rosenman
2001–2002
[11]
  • Mary and Steve's Tango
    (from The Wedding Planner)
    by Mervyn Warren
2000–2001
[12]
  • Variations of Andrew Lloyd Webber
    arranged by Jan Hughes
    The BBC Concert Orchestra

Results

GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

International[13]
Event 98–99 99–00 00–01 01–02 02–03 03–04 04–05 05–06 06–07 07–08 08–09
Worlds22nd34th24th
Europeans21st21st28th29th22nd20th26th14th
GP NHK Trophy10th
Challenge Cup1st
Crystal Skate4th
Cup of Nice4th4th
Finlandia Trophy8th
Golden Spin14th10th11th
Nebelhorn Trophy16th
Nepela Memorial7th8th
NRW Trophy13th
Schäfer Memorial16th12th
Triglav Trophy1st
International: Junior[13]
Junior Worlds29th
JGP Netherlands13th
JGP Poland14th
JGP Slovenia13th
JGP Ukraine7th
Golden Bear4th J
National[13]
Dutch Champ.4th1st1st1st1st1st1st1st1st1st
WD: Withdrew

References
  1. "Karen VENHUIZEN: 2007/2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 21 November 2011.
  2. Graat, John (5 January 2004). "Ambitieuze plannen van Karen Venhuizen zijn 'niet irreëel'". Trouw.nl.
  3. Misset, Robert (22 December 2008). "'Het is doodeng als je verlamd raakt'" ["It's scary when you're paralyzed"]. Volkskrant.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 8 April 2013.
  4. Ellenbroek, Ellis (26 April 2008). "'Stoppen is nu nog geen optie'" [Quitting is not an option]. Trouw.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 8 April 2013.
  5. "Venhuizen wil niet terugkeren als een recreant" [Venhuizen would not return recreationally]. Trouw.nl (in Dutch). 17 December 2008. Archived from the original on 8 April 2013.
  6. "Karen VENHUIZEN: 2006/2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007.
  7. "Karen VENHUIZEN: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 22 May 2006.
  8. "Karen VENHUIZEN: 2004/2005". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 9 March 2005.
  9. "Karen VENHUIZEN: 2003/2004". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 9 June 2004.
  10. "Karen VENHUIZEN: 2002/2003". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 15 April 2003.
  11. "Karen VENHUIZEN: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 2 April 2002.
  12. "Karen VENHUIZEN: 2000/2001". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 20 April 2001.
  13. "Competition Results: Karen VENHUIZEN". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
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