{{Short description|Dutch cyclist (1900–1983)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox cyclist | name = Ko Willems | image = Ko Willems2.jpg | image_size = | caption = | fullname = Jacobus Matheus Willems | nickname = | birth_date = {{birth date|1900|10|27|df=yes}} | birth_place = Amsterdam, the Netherlands | death_date = {{death date and age|1983|9|28|1900|10|27|df=yes}} | death_place = Amsterdam, the Netherlands | height = | weight = | currentteam = | discipline = Track | role = Rider | ridertype = Endurance | amateuryears1 = | amateurteam1 = | proyears1 = | proteam1 = | majorwins = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Men's track cycling}} {{MedalCountry| the {{NED}} }} {{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}} {{MedalGold | 1924 Paris | 50 km track race}} | show-medals = yes | updated = }}
'''Jacobus "Ko" Matheus Willems''' (27 October 1900 – 28 September 1983) was a track cyclist from the Netherlands, who represented his native country at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/17178 |title=Ko Willems |work=Olympedia |access-date=12 October 2021}}</ref> There he won the gold medal in the 50 km track race.<ref name="sports-reference">{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wi/ko-willems-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418051831/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wi/ko-willems-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-04-18 |title=Ko Willems Olympic Results |accessdate=2014-01-15 |work=sports-reference.com}}</ref>
In that Olympic race, Willems worked together with Jan Maas. Maas kept attacking from the tenth kilometer, and the other cyclists spent energy trying to reach him. In the end, 15 cyclists remained, and Willems, who was the better sprinter, won the race.<ref>Jeroen Heijmans (2 July 2007) [http://sportgeschiedenis.nl/2007/07/02/nederlands-goud-9.aspx Het vierde goud voor Nederland op de Olympische Spelen van 1924 kwam op naam van baanwielrenner Ko Willems. De Amsterdammer won de 50 km-race, een onderdeel dat in Parijs voor het laatst op de olympische agenda voorkwam.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227123020/http://www.sportgeschiedenis.nl/2007/07/02/nederlands-goud-9.aspx |date=27 December 2008 }} sportgeschiedenis.nl {{in lang|nl}}</ref>
==See also== * List of Dutch Olympic cyclists
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Ko Willems}} * {{in lang|nl}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20070609180222/http://www.sport.nl/overige/deelnemersfinder/ Dutch Olympic Committee]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Willems, Ko}} Category:1900 births Category:1983 deaths Category:Dutch male cyclists Category:Cyclists at the 1924 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic cyclists for the Netherlands Category:Olympic gold medalists for the Netherlands Category:Cyclists from Amsterdam Category:Dutch track cyclists Category:Olympic gold medalists in cycling Category:Medalists at the 1924 Summer Olympics Category:20th-century Dutch sportsmen
{{Netherlands-Olympic-medalist-stub}} {{netherlands-cycling-bio-stub}}