Leave the sport in shock: the world Champion's death - was just 37 years old

After just a half year of illness, the death of the 37-year-old former world champion in speed skating Paulien van Deutekom night between the 2. and 3. January of lung cancer.

This writes the Dutch media NOS.

She leaves husband and the couple's only a one-year daughter.

so far it has been extremely sparse with information about the Van Deutekoms deaths.

Paulien van Deutekom is not considered to be one of the greatest talents the Netherlands has seen in speed skating. She reckoned, however, for a very good example of how far one can get with hard work.

- She was never exceptionally talented but was nevertheless outstanding performance. She was a proof, that an ordinary person can do extraordinary things, " says the former skøjtestjerne and teammate to the Van Deutekom Erben Wennemars to the NOS.

After the impressive results in the World Cup in 2005, she received the year after the law to train with the stars Renate Groenewold and Ireen Wüst on the TVM-team. Here she made remarkable progress and two years later, let itself determine the world champion in Berlin after the victory in the final over just Wüst.

It would prove to be the big climax in the career which she subsequently sustained damage and managed to get back to the absolute top again. She stopped his career in 2012 as a 31-year-old.

Just Wüst would prove to be a close friend, and she wrote a very emotional update on Instagram in connection with the death.

Show this posting on Instagram

Lieve Buuf, maatje, aller liefste vriendinnetje. Wat ben ik trots op jou! Zo dapper gevochten a gestreden in een oneerlijke strijd die niet te winnen viel. Maar zo vol levenslust a altijd positief! Wat ben ik intens verdrietig dat ik jou moet kitty maar ook zo dankbaar dat je mijn Buuffie was. Ik heb zoveel van je geleerd.. distributors kijken zonder oordeel an overal het positieve van inzien. Onze vriendschap is meer dan bijzonder, dat is LIEFDE! Buuf , ik hou van jou! Tot ooit (

A lookup shared of Ireenw (@ireenw) the

- Dear Buuf, friend and dear friend. Where I am proud of you. You fought and fought an unfair fight you could not win. But so full of joy of life and always positive! How I miss you, but I'm also thankful that you were my Buuffie, writes Wüst.

- I have learned so much from you...learned to see without judging and see the positive in everything. Our friendship is more than specifically, it is love! Buuf, I love you! For always.

The Norwegian skøjteløber Maren Haugli, who competed with Van Deutekom, is in shock, she says to the Norwegian newspaper of the World.

She was a large idrætsmenneske, and I remember her as earthy and mild. And a arbejdsjern who worked knaldhårdt for the results. She now is away is incomprehensible, " she says.

After the career she worked as an expert for the NOS, while she also participated in a reality program.

- We knew that Paulien was sick, but it is shocking that she is dead at such a young age, says Herman de Haan, who is the director of the Dutch skøjteforbund, KNSB, in a press release.