Man who managed marathon world record breakers Kipsang, Kimetto calls time on his career
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Gerard Van de Veen, Volare Sports Manager, during an interview in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County on December 03, 2024. Gerard has retired from management and headed back to his home country in Netherlands, leaving the job to his two daughters. They have camps in Kericho, Kapsabet, Kapkitony and Iten.
In 2019, he had a minor surgery on his shoulder and that is when it was discovered he also had a heart problem that required an operation which he terms a tough one after he was forced to stay in the hospital for three weeks.
“I stayed in the hospital far longer than I expected and it was not easy, but I’m happy because I managed to recover. Today I'm in Kenya just to meet my athletes during the farewell party,” he said two weeks ago in Iten.
The influence of Dutch Athletics manager Gerard Van de Veen, who retired in December, will continue to be felt in Kenya for a long time.
Van de Veen, who was a member of Volare Sports, officially announced his retirement last month at Iten Club, which is owned by retired athlete Lorna Kiplagat, in the presence of a horde of world-beating athletes.
