The arena in Hamar, Norway, was electric. It was March 2025, and the World Single Distance Championships were reaching their fever pitch. Joy Beune, the 25-year-old from Borne, wasn’t just participating; she was on a mission.
As she powered through the final laps of the 3000m, her strides long and punishing, it was clear this was a coronation, not just a competition.
She crossed the line not only as the world champion in the 3000m but would later add gold in the 1500m and the team pursuit, completing a trifecta that announced the arrival of a new dominant force in Dutch speed skating. This wasn’t luck; this was the culmination of years of “vallen en opstaan” – falling down and getting back up.
Early life and background
Growing up in the quiet town of Borne, Netherlands, Joy Beune (born April 28, 1999) was introduced to her life’s passion in the most organic way possible. Following in the footsteps of her father, a speed skating enthusiast, she first stepped onto a natural ice rink at just four years old.
That initial glide turned into an obsession. By the age of nine, she had joined a local club in Enschede, her fate sealed. Her parents provided the bedrock of support, even if her mother needed a minute to process some of her later career choices.
But that unwavering support system helped Joy balance her education alongside her burgeoning career, laying the foundation for the disciplined athlete she would become.
Career trajectory
The prodigy emerges (2017-2018)
Long before she was a household name in the Netherlands, Joy Beune was a phenomenon on the junior circuit. She burst onto the international scene with a silver medal at the 2017 World Junior Championships, but it was 2018 that cemented her status as a future star. At the World Junior Championships in Salt Lake City, she was simply untouchable. Beune swept the 1000m, 1500m, and 3000m, setting junior world records in the process. Her performance in the mini-combination also set a new world standard. It was a clear signal: a prodigy had arrived, and she turned professional that same year, joining Team LottoNL-Jumbo.
The grind and the breakthrough (2018-2023)
The jump to the senior ranks is notoriously difficult, especially in a powerhouse nation like the Netherlands where simply qualifying for major events can be harder than the finals themselves. Beune spent these years grinding, learning, and developing the tactical acumen to match her raw talent. She moved teams, signing with Team IKO in 2022. There were moments of intense frustration, like the bizarre disqualification at the 2023 World Championships where the Dutch team pursuit squad was stripped of gold due to a rule violation regarding bare skin near Beune’s ankle. But instead of breaking her, these setbacks fueled her fire.
The golden era (2024-present)
The 2023-2024 season was the turning point. Beune claimed her first senior World Title in the 5000m at the 2024 Single Distances Championships in Calgary, adding a bronze in the 1500m. She then conquered the all-round category, winning the 2024 World Allround Championships in Inzell.
But it was the 2025 season where she truly established her dominance. As noted by the ISU, she became “unbeatable” in the 1500m, winning her first three World Cup races of the season. At the World Championships in Hamar, she was the star of the show, capturing gold in the 3000m, the 1500m, and the team pursuit.
The olympic dream (2026)
The 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics were her ultimate test. While an individual medal narrowly slipped through her fingers with a fourth-place finish in the 3000m, she stood tall on the podium with her teammates. Beune, Marijke Groenewoud, and Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong fought valiantly to secure the silver medal in the team pursuit. Reflecting on her first Games, Beune shared an emotional message, acknowledging the pain of falling short but declaring, “Dit is nog maar het begin” (This is only the beginning).
Teams/clubs
- Current: Team IKO
- Former: Team LottoNL-Jumbo
- Club: Bornse Schaats- en Skeelervereniging
Playing style and skills
Standing at 1.72m, Joy Beune is the epitome of a modern all-rounder. She possesses a rare combination of raw power and technical finesse.
Once known primarily as a middle-distance specialist (1500m, 3000m), she has systematically eliminated her weaknesses, becoming a force even on the longer 5000m. Her racing style is characterized by incredible self-belief and tactical maturity.
As she told the ISU after a dominant World Cup performance, “I know that even after a tough training block I can still race to win”. She has the patience to let races unfold and the explosive speed to strike in the final lap.
Life off the ice
Beyond the ice rink, Joy Beune leads a life full of personality and passion. She has been in a high-profile relationship with fellow speed skating superstar Kjeld Nuis since 2019, making them one of the sport’s ultimate power couples.
In a move that shattered stereotypes, Beune posed for the Dutch Playboy in December 2024. The edition became a record-breaking phenomenon, selling ten times more copies than usual on its first day. She described the decision as a way to embrace her identity as both a strong athlete and a feminine woman.
While her mother was initially “disappointed,” her father joked they’d “skip the December issue”.
Her hobbies include reading and watching television, but her newest thrill is motorcycling. She earned her license in late 2024 and was so taken with it that she became an ambassador for the Italian motorbike brand Ducati in 2025, a hobby she shares with Nuis.
Records and accolades
World Championship gold medals
- 2025 – World Champion (3000m)
- 2025 – World Champion (1500m)
- 2025 – World Champion (Team Pursuit)
- 2024 – World Champion (5000m)
- 2024 – World Allround Champion
- 2024 – World Champion (Team Pursuit)
Olympic medal
- 2026 – Olympic Silver Medalist (Team Pursuit)
World Cup dominance
- 2025-2026 Season: 3x 1500m World Cup winner
- Multiple World Cup victories and podium finishes in 1500m, 3000m, and 5000m
Junior world records (set in 2018)
- 1000m Junior World Record
- 1500m Junior World Record
- 3000m Junior World Record
- Team Pursuit Junior World Record (multiple times)
FAQ
Q: Who is Joy Beune?
A: Joy Beune is a Dutch professional speed skater and multiple World Champion, specializing in middle and long distances. She is an Olympic silver medalist and a former junior world record holder.
Q: How old is Joy Beune?
A: She was born on April 28, 1999. She is 26 years old.
Q: Who is Joy Beune’s boyfriend?
A: She is in a relationship with fellow Dutch speed skating Olympic champion Kjeld Nuis.
Q: What are Joy Beune’s personal best times?
A: Her personal records include a 1:52.23 in the 1500m and a 3:55.72 in the 3000m, among others.
Q: Did Joy Beune pose for Playboy?
A: Yes, she posed for the Dutch edition of Playboy in December 2024, which became a massive record-breaking success in the Netherlands.
Q: What team does Joy Beune skate for?
A: She currently skates for Team IKO.