Two of the most accomplished beach volleyball players in the Netherlands, Madelein Meppelink and Sanne Keizer have announced the end of their playing careers. The pair last competed at the FIVB World Tour Finals in Sardinia, Italy, where they finished ninth.
Partners since 2018, the 32-year-old Meppelink and the 37-year-old Keizer represented their country at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, finishing 19th. During their four seasons together, they appeared at 38 international events, winning one gold, one silver and three bronze medals. The highlight of their partnership was a home victory at the 2018 European Championship.
Before joining Keizer, Meppelink competed at two other Olympic tournaments, finishing ninth at London 2012 with Sophie van Gestel and at Rio 2016 with Marleen van Iersel. Competing internationally since 2008, the blocker has played in 119 events, winning two gold, six silver and seven bronze medals. She won another edition of the European Championship in 2014, with van Iersel.
“Looking back to my career, all I see are beautiful things,” she said. “I started training with the national team in 2008 and have experienced several highlights since then. Competing at the London Olympics and winning the European Championship with Sanne are two of the most special of them. I’ve managed to remain among the best ten teams in the world with different partners since 2013 and that makes me very proud. I’ll complete my Master’s Degree and continue working for the sport in my role as the FIVB Athletes’ Commission President.”
Keizer, 37, won the FIVB U18 World Championship in 2002 and started competing internationally the following year. She played in 158 international tournaments and won four golds, two silvers and six bronzes. The defender, who didn’t play between 2014 and 2017, also finished ninth in London, with van Iersel, and triumphed at the European Championship with the same partner in the same year.
“I’m very proud of my career, which lasted 20 years,” Keizer reacted. “It wasn’t an easy decision to end my career, but I think that now it’s time to focus on my family and set new goals. I had some great moments with Madelein in this second part of my career and already miss them. Winning the European Championship in 2018 in front of my kids was a very special moment.”
With the retirements of Keizer, Meppelink and van Iersel, who stepped away from the sport after last year’s European Championship, the Netherlands are set to enter the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour represented by young players on the women’s side, most notably Tokyo Olympians Raisa Schoon and Katja Stam.
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