Ireen Wüst Named First Female Chef de Mission for 2028 LA Olympics

Ireen Wüst has been appointed by the sports organization NOC*NSF as the chef de mission for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. This appointment marks the first time a woman has served as chef de mission for non-paralympic athletes, according to reports from NOS.

The 40-year-old former speed skater replaces Pieter van den Hoogenband, who recently left NOC*NSF. If the collaboration in Los Angeles is successful, Wüst may also hold the position for the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps, where she could follow the role previously held by Carl Verheijen.

Why is Ireen Wüst’s appointment significant?

Wüst is the first woman to lead the non-paralympic Olympic delegation. While women like Esther Vergeer and Thea Limbach previously served as chef de mission for Paralympic teams, the role for Olympic athletes had remained male-held until this appointment, according to NOS.

Wüst brings a record-breaking athletic background to the role. She is the most decorated Olympian in Dutch history with six gold, five silver, and two bronze medals. She remains the only athlete worldwide to win a gold medal at five different Winter Games.

Her professional credentials include thirteen individual world titles and seven world and five European allround titles. In 2025, she received the Fanny Blankers Koen Career Prize for her achievements in speed skating.

Did You Know? Ireen Wüst is the only athlete in history to have won a gold medal at five separate Winter Olympic Games.

What experience does Wüst bring to the leadership role?

Since April 2023, Wüst has worked for NOC*NSF as an expert in performance behavior and mental health. In this capacity, she supports athletes in top sport and training programs at TeamNL centers.

She also serves as a top sport lifestyle coach at Topsport Noord, a regional center in the Netherlands. Additionally, Wüst has worked as a skating analyst for the NOS since the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that transitioning a mental health and performance expert into the chef de mission role suggests a shift toward prioritizing athlete psychological readiness alongside physical results.

How do previous Olympic results compare?

Wüst takes over a Summer program that recently saw significant success. Under the leadership of Pieter van den Hoogenband during the 2021 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Games, the Dutch team earned a total of 25 gold, 19 silver, and 26 bronze medals.

Ireen Wüst: Olympic Speed Skating Ace🥇🇳🇱 | Athlete Highlights

In contrast, the Winter Games team led by Carl Verheijen in Milan earlier this year returned with three gold, three silver, and one bronze medal, according to NOS data.

What happens next for the Dutch Olympic team?

Wüst will now lead the preparation and delegation for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. A possible next step involves her extension to the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps, provided the NOC*NSF is satisfied with the Los Angeles partnership.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who did Ireen Wüst replace as chef de mission?
She replaces Pieter van den Hoogenband, who recently departed from NOC*NSF.

Is Wüst the first woman to ever be chef de mission for the Netherlands?
She is the first woman to lead the non-paralympic athletes; however, the Paralympic teams were previously led by women including Esther Vergeer and Thea Limbach.

What is Wüst’s current professional role within NOC*NSF?
Since April 2023, she has served as an expert in performance behavior and mental health.

How will Wüst’s background in mental health and performance behavior impact the Dutch team’s approach to the 2028 Los Angeles Games?