{{Short description|Dutch para-alpine skier (born 1998)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}} {{family name hatnote|de Langen|Langen|lang=Dutch}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Niels de Langen | image = Niels 7775.jpg | caption = Niels de Langen (2015) | nationality = Dutch | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1998|11|30}} | birth_place = Arnhem, Netherlands | country = {{NED}} | sport = Para-alpine skiing | coach = Falco Teitsma | disability_class = LW12.2 | show-medals = no | medaltemplates= {{Medal|Sport| Men's para-alpine skiing }} {{Medal|Country| the {{NED}} }} {{Medal|Competition|Winter Paralympic Games}} {{MedalSilver|2022 Beijing|Slalom sitting}} {{MedalSilver|2026 Milano Cortina|Downhill sitting}} {{MedalSilver|2026 Milano Cortina|Giant slalom sitting}} {{MedalBronze|2022 Beijing|{{nowrap|Super combined sitting}}}} {{MedalBronze|2026 Milano Cortina|Super combined sitting}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalSilver|2019 Sella Nevea/Kranjska Gora|Giant slalom sitting}} {{MedalBronze|2017 Tarvisio|Slalom sitting}} {{MedalBronze|2023 Lleida|Giant slalom sitting}} {{MedalBronze|2025 Maribor|Slalom sitting}} }}
'''Niels de Langen''' (born 30 November 1998) is a Dutch para-alpine skier and five-time Paralympic medalist.
== Early life ==
De Langen was born in 1998 in Arnhem, Netherlands. In the first year of his life he lost his right leg due to meningococcal disease. At 16 years of age, in June 2015, he decided to amputate his left leg which was also damaged as a result of the infection.<ref name="teamnl_bio">{{cite web |url=https://teamnl.org/sporters/6250-niels-de-langen |title=Niels de Langen |publisher=Team NL |accessdate=29 April 2019 |archive-date=29 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429202649/https://teamnl.org/sporters/6250-niels-de-langen |language=Dutch}}</ref>
== Career ==
De Langen won a bronze medal at the 2017 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships at the slalom event.<ref name="teamnl_bio"/>
De Langen represented the Netherlands at the 2018 Winter Paralympics and competed in all five disciplines: the Men's downhill, Men's super-G, Men's super combined, Men's giant slalom and Men's slalom events.{{fact|date=March 2021}}
In 2019, De Langen won a silver medal at the World Para Alpine Skiing Championships in the giant slalom event.<ref name="nos_kampschreur_2019">{{cite web |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2268452-paraskier-kampschreur-opnieuw-wereldkampioen-op-reuzenslalom.html |title=Paraskiër Kampschreur opnieuw wereldkampioen op reuzenslalom |date=21 January 2019 |publisher=NOS |accessdate=29 April 2019 |archive-date=29 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429203006/https://nos.nl/artikel/2268452-paraskier-kampschreur-opnieuw-wereldkampioen-op-reuzenslalom.html |language=Dutch}}</ref> In 2022, he won the bronze medal in the men's sitting super combined event at the 2021 World Para Snow Sports Championships.<ref name="magnificent_monday_for_millie_knight_2022">{{Cite news |date=17 January 2022 |title=Magnificent Monday for Millie Knight and Rene De Silvestro in the Super-Combined |work=Paralympic.org |url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/magnificent-monday-millie-knight-and-rene-de-silvestro-super-combined |access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="france_twice_strike_alpine_combined_gold_world_para_snow_sports_championships_2022">{{Cite news |last=Houston |first=Michael |date=17 January 2022 |title=France twice strike Alpine Combined gold at World Para Snow Sports Championships |work=InsideTheGames.biz |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1117924/world-para-snow-sports-champs-5 |access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref> He also won the bronze medal in the men's sitting slalom event.<ref name="pedersen_delights_home_fans_third_gold_2022">{{Cite news |date=21 January 2022 |title=Jesper Pedersen delights home fans with third gold on drama-packed Friday |work=Paralympic.org |url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/jesper-pedersen-delights-home-fans-third-gold-drama-packed-friday |access-date=21 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="pedersen_clinches_third_gold_of_world_para_snow_sports_championships_in_lillehammer_2022">{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Patrick |date=21 January 2022 |title=Pedersen clinches third gold of World Para Snow Sports Championships in Lillehammer |work=InsideTheGames.biz |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1118109/pedersen-third-gold-para-snow-sports |access-date=21 January 2022}}</ref>
He represented the Netherlands at the 2022 Winter Paralympics.<ref name="trio_of_para_alpine_skiers_earn_second_gold_medal_beijing_2022">{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Patrick |date=7 March 2022 |title=Trio of Para Alpine skiers earn second gold medal at Beijing 2022 |work=InsideTheGames.biz |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1120203/para-alpine-beijing-2022-day-3 |access-date=7 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="eerste_medailles_kampschreur_de_langen_beijing_2022">{{Cite news |date=7 March 2022 |title=Eerste medailles voor Nederlandse paralympiërs Kampschreur en De Langen |language=nl |work=Trouw |url=https://www.trouw.nl/sport/eerste-medailles-voor-nederlandse-paralympiers-kampschreur-en-de-langen~b205319b/ |access-date=7 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="vijf_alpineskiers_drie_snowboarders_beijing_2022">{{Cite news |date=17 February 2022 |title=Vijf alpineskiërs en drie snowboarders naar Paralympische Spelen Beijing |language=nl |work=Team NL |url=https://teamnl.org/artikelen/2022/02/vijf-alpineski%C3%ABrs-en-drie-snowboarders-naar-paralympische-spelen-beijing |access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref> He won the silver medal in the men's slalom and the bronze medal in the men's super combined sitting events.<ref name="trio_of_para_alpine_skiers_earn_second_gold_medal_beijing_2022"/><ref>{{Cite news |date=7 March 2022 |title=Glunderende Kampschreur dolblij met zilver: 'Ik heb die slalom gekilld' |language=nl |work=NOS |url=https://nos.nl/collectie/13890/artikel/2420200-glunderende-kampschreur-dolblij-met-zilver-ik-heb-die-slalom-gekilld |access-date=7 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="alpine_skiing_results_book_winter_paralympics_2022">{{Cite web |title=Alpine Skiing Results Book |url=https://results.beijing2022.cn/beijing-2022/paralympic-games/static/pwg2022/pdf/PWG2022/ALP/PWG2022_ALP_B99_ALP-------------------------------.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313113641/https://results.beijing2022.cn/beijing-2022/paralympic-games/static/pwg2022/pdf/PWG2022/ALP/PWG2022_ALP_B99_ALP-------------------------------.pdf |archive-date=13 March 2022 |access-date=13 March 2022 |website=2022 Winter Paralympics}}</ref> De Langen was the flagbearer for the Netherlands during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Paralympics.<ref name="de_langen_closing_ceremony_beijing_2022">{{Cite news |date=12 March 2022 |title=Zitskiër De Langen draagt vlag bij sluitingsceremonie Paralympische Spelen |language=nl |work=NU.nl |url=https://www.nu.nl/sport-overig/6188957/zitskier-de-langen-draagt-vlag-bij-sluitingsceremonie-paralympische-spelen.html |access-date=12 March 2022}}</ref>
He won the bronze medal in the men's sitting giant slalom event at the 2023 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships held in Lleida, Spain.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 January 2023 |title=Weer WK-zilver Kampschreur, brons De Langen op reuzenslalom |language=nl |work=NOS |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2461349-weer-wk-zilver-kampschreur-brons-de-langen-op-reuzenslalom |access-date=29 January 2023}}</ref>
De Langen represented the Netherlands at the 2026 Winter Paralympics. He won the silver medal in the men's downhill sitting event.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nos.nl/collectie/14017/artikel/2605315-de-langen-verovert-paralympisch-zilver-op-afdaling-crash-favoriet-kampschreur|title=De Langen verovert paralympisch zilver op afdaling, crash favoriet Kampschreur|work=NOS|date=7 March 2026|access-date=10 March 2026|language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/paralympic-games/results/alp/cl/m/dh------12050-----/fnl-/000100--/race-result|title=Men's Downhill Sitting Results - Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics|date=7 March 2026|access-date=10 March 2026|website=olympics.com}}</ref> Three days later, he took bronze in the men's super combined sitting.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/paralympic-games/results/alp/tc/m/ac------12050-----/fnl-/0001sl--/race-result|title=Men's Alpine Combined Slalom Sitting Results - Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics|date=10 March 2026|access-date=13 March 2026|website=olympics.com}}</ref> On 13 March, De Langen secured his third medal of the 2026 Games, taking silver in the giant slalom sitting.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2606160-zitskier-de-langen-grijpt-zilveren-medaille-kampschreur-valt-op-reuzenslalom|title=Zitskiër De Langen grijpt zilveren medaille, Kampschreur valt op reuzenslalom|work=NOS|date=13 March 2026|access-date=17 March 2026|language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/paralympic-games/results/alp/sl/m/gs------12050-----/fnl-/000200--/race-result|title=Men's Giant Slalom Sitting Results - Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics|date=13 March 2026|access-date=17 March 2026|website=olympics.com}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
He studies physiotherapy.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 March 2022 |title=Student Fysiotherapie Niels de Langen wint brons op de Paralympische Spelen |language=nl |work=HAN University of Applied Sciences |url=https://www.han.nl/nieuws/2022/03/student-fysiotherapie-niels-de-langen-wint-brons-op-de-paralympische-spelen/# |access-date=13 March 2022}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Niels de Langen}} * [https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/athlete-biography.html?sectorcode=PAL&competitorid=289892 Niels de Langen] at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (para alpine) * {{IPC}} * {{TeamNL|niels-de-langen|old_id=6250-niels-de-langen}} * {{Official website|https://www.nielsdelangen.com/}} {{in lang|nl}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:de Langen, Niels}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:Dutch male alpine skiers Category:Sportspeople from Arnhem Category:Paralympic alpine skiers for the Netherlands Category:Alpine skiers at the 2018 Winter Paralympics Category:Alpine skiers at the 2022 Winter Paralympics Category:Alpine skiers at the 2026 Winter Paralympics Category:Medalists at the 2022 Winter Paralympics Category:Medalists at the 2026 Winter Paralympics Category:Paralympic medalists in alpine skiing Category:Paralympic silver medalists for the Netherlands Category:Paralympic bronze medalists for the Netherlands Category:21st-century Dutch sportsmen