Olympic champion Epke Zonderland will work as the tournament director of the World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam. The World Championships will take place in Ahoy between October 17 and 25, 2026.
“It’s special that I can be involved in the tournament in this way,” Zonderland said about his new role. The news was announced on Saturday at the Dutch Gymnastics Championships, also in Ahoy.
“I know how great it is to compete in a tournament in your own country and I also want others to experience that. I hope that as tournament director I can be a link between gymnasts, coaches and the organization and that I can arrange things smoothly.”
Zonderland ended his career after the Tokyo Olympic Games (in 2021). The 39-year-old Frisian won Olympic gold on the horizontal bar in 2012. He also became world champion three times (2013, 2014 and 2018) and European champion three times (2011, 2014 and 2019) on that apparatus.
Earlier this year it was announced that Zonderland is now also working as a team doctor for the female soccer players of sc Heerenveen. Zonderland has already graduated as a doctor and is now studying to become a sports doctor. He combines his work at Heerenveen with his studies.
This year the world championships will take place in Indonesia. The world title fight will be from October 19 to 25, 2025 in Jakarta.