Niels de Langen

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.

Career

De Langen won a bronze medal at the 2017 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships at the slalom event. In 2022, he won the bronze medal in the men's sitting super combined event at the 2021 World Para Snow Sports Championships. He also won the bronze medal in the men's sitting slalom event.

He represented the Netherlands at the 2022 Winter Paralympics. He won the silver medal in the men's slalom and the bronze medal in the men's super combined sitting events. De Langen was the flagbearer for the Netherlands during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Paralympics.

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.

De Langen represented the Netherlands at the 2026 Winter Paralympics. He won the silver medal in the men's downhill sitting event. Three days later, he took bronze in the men's super combined sitting. On 13 March, De Langen secured his third medal of the 2026 Games, taking silver in the giant slalom sitting.

Personal life

He studies physiotherapy.