Ian Pennekamp
European Championship Medalist | WTCS Top 40 Athlete | Road to Los Angeles 2028
PASSIONATE, COMMITTED & RESILIENT
Road to Los Angeles 2028
Welcome to my website.
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What drives me is the ambition to become the best version of myself — not only as an athlete, but also as a human being. Every day I challenge myself to grow, seize opportunities and take one step closer to my goals.
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My dream is to compete at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028. After three seasons in which my career was affected by recovering from a serious knee injury, I was finally able to race a full season again in 2025. Step by step I rebuilt my performance and fought my way back up the world rankings — from 252th in the world to 71st, finishing 38th overall in the World Triathlon Championship Series standings.
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With a strong international race calendar and two altitude training blocks planned for 2026, I continue to build towards the Olympic Games. Alongside my athletic career, I will complete my Master’s degree in Human Movement Sciences in 2026, giving me a strong scientific foundation to further optimize my training and performance in the years ahead.
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The journey continues — on the road to Los Angeles 2028.
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About Me
I was born in Bussum, the Netherlands, in 2001, and raced my first local triathlon at the age of 14. In 2019 I became Dutch Junior Champion for the first time, a title I successfully defended in the following years.
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Competing at the U23 World Championships in Edmonton (2021) was an important milestone in my development. With the 7th fastest run split of the entire field, I gained valuable insight into what it takes to compete with the best athletes in the world. This experience later formed the basis of my Bachelor thesis in Human Movement Sciences, from which I graduated cum laude. At the end of 2021, a 4th place at the ETU European Cup Final in Quarteira with the elite men confirmed that I was progressing toward the highest level.
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However, at the beginning of 2022 I suffered a serious knee injury during training, forcing me to miss the entire season. The following years were largely focused on rehabilitation. During this period I decided to start working with a new coach and redesign my training approach. The focus shifted toward improving my swimming, developing explosive power and strengthening my mental resilience. My comeback season in 2025 proved to be successful and marks an important step on my journey toward Los Angeles 2028.
"Big things have small beginnings."
"Big things have small beginnings."
Windhoek 2023
African Triathlon Cup Dakhla 2022
EK qualification race 2019 Arnhem
2019 National Junior Championships
One Team, One Goal, One Vision
PASSIONATE, COMMITTED and RESILIENT
My team consists of family and friends, as well as local businesses and national brands, who believe in me and help support the realisation of my vision. By clicking on the link you will learn more about what they do.
Partner - TAG NL
TAG NL (Trust in Achieving Goals) is a coaching and development company dedicated to helping individuals and teams unlock their full potential. With a strong focus on personal leadership, resilience and sustainable performance, TAG NL supports professionals in achieving meaningful growth and lasting results.
Since 2019, Ian has also been involved in supporting the back office of the company founded by his parents. This experience has shown him how important a strong backbone is for any organization — just as taking care of the fundamentals is essential for an athlete aiming to perform at the highest level.
As a partner of Ian, TAG NL shares the same belief in commitment, continuous development and performing at your best when it matters most — values that are essential on the road to Los Angeles 2028.
Bike Partner – Woest Sport
Woest Sport is Ian’s trusted bike partner, providing high-performance bicycles and technical expertise that support his training and racing at the highest international level. With a strong focus on quality, innovation and athlete collaboration, Woest Sport helps ensure Ian has the equipment he needs to perform when it matters most.
Together, Ian and Woest Sport are pushing the limits of performance on the road — building towards the ultimate goal: Los Angeles 2028.
Performance Partner - Chiropractie de Werf
Chiropractie De Werf supports Ian with expert chiropractic care focused on optimal movement, injury prevention and recovery. Their evidence-based approach helps athletes maintain balance in the body, improve performance and recover efficiently from the physical demands of elite sport.
When Ian was 15, he met Stijn, who has been supporting him ever since. Stijn helps ensure that Ian’s body continues to function optimally, allowing him to consistently ask the maximum from his body. Knowing that such an experienced and dedicated chiropractor is part of his team gives Ian great confidence and reassurance as he continues pursuing his ambitions.
With their professional guidance and support, Chiropractie De Werf plays an important role in keeping Ian healthy and performing at his best on the journey toward Los Angeles 2028.
Partner - PRODUCTION WORLD
Production World is a full-service production company of high-quality events. Whether it was the unveiling of TeamNL for the European Games, the NATO Meeting of Heads of State and/or Government or the open days of Feynoord soccer team, countless events and festivals have been realised with the help of Production World’s knowledge and expertise. "I am really honored that a company that can turn visions into inspiring tangible events is committed to be part of my team and supports me in making my Olympic dream tangible as well." As a partner of Ian, Production World believes in the power of precision, preparation and teamwork — the same principles that are essential in elite sport. Their support reflects a shared commitment to professionalism, ambition and delivering performance when it matters most on the road to Los Angeles 2028.
