Stefan Nillessen
{{Short description|Dutch athlete (born 2003)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Stefan Nillessen
| image = Stefan Nillessen - EK Cross 2024 in Antalya, Turkije.jpg
| caption = Stefan Nillessen at the 2024 European Cross Country Championships in Antalya, Turkey.
| birth_name =
| nationality = Dutch
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|1|2|df=yes}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height =
| weight =
| sport = Athletics
| event = Middle distance
| pb = 800m: 1:47.37 (Breda, 2023)
1500m: 3:30.75 (Paris, 2024)
Mile: 3:52.70 (Lievin, 2025)
3000m: 7:37.10 (Karlsruhe, 2025)
| medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Sport| Men's Athletics }}
{{Medal|Country| {{NED}} }}
{{Medal|Competition|European U23 Championships}}
{{Medal|Gold|2023 Espoo|1500 metres}}
}}
Stefan Nillessen (born 2 January 2003) is a Dutch middle-distance runner. In 2024, he won the Dutch Athletics Championships over 1500 metres, and also won over that distance at the Dutch Indoor Athletics Championships in 2025. He has competed at multiple major championships, including the 2024 Olympic Games.{{cite web |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/netherlands/stefan-nillessen-14910032 |website=World Athletics |accessdate=3 July 2024 |title=Stefan Nillessen}}
Career
He was selected for the 1500 metres at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.{{cite web |url=https://www.cifla.nl/stefan-en-teun-gaan-naar-het-wjk-in-colombia/ |title=Stefan and Teun are going to the WJK in Colombia! |website=cifla.nl |accessdate=3 July 2024}} He won gold in the 1500 metres at the 2023 European Athletics U23 Championships in Espoo, Finland.{{cite web |url=https://www.european-athletics.com/news/guerth-eclipses-championship-record-to-strike-3000m-steeplechase-gold-for-germany-in-espoo- |website=European-Athletics |accessdate=3 July 2024 |title=Gürth eclipses championship record to strike 3000m steeplechase gold for Germany |date=15 July 2023}}
He is one of a group of athletes coached by Tomasz Lewandowski. He signed a sponsorship deal with Nike in 2024.{{cite web |url=https://hardloopnetwerk.nl/met-contract-op-zak-focust-stefan-nillessen-zich-nu-vol-op-het-lopen/ |website=Hardloopnetwerk.nl |accessdate=3 July 2024 |title=With a contract in hand, Stefan Nillessen is now fully focused on running |first=Tijn |last=Piest |date=13 January 2024}} He ran a personal best of 3:34.32 for the 1500 metres in Turku, Finland on 18 June 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.hardloopnieuws.nl/nadine-visser-evenaar-nl-record-en-stefan-nillessen-loopt-b-limiet-1500-mtr/#google_vignette |website=hardloopniews |accessdate=3 July 2024 |title=Nadine Visser evenaart NL record en Stefan Nillessen loopt B limiet 1500 mtr |date=18 June 2024}}
He won the Dutch national title over 1500m at the Dutch Athletics Championships in Hengelo, in June 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.ad.nl/berg-en-dal/groesbekenaar-nillessen-nederlands-kampioen-en-bijna-zeker-van-olympische-spelen~a08528dd5/#:~:text=Shots%20%2F%20Johan%20Manders-,Groesbekenaar%20Nillessen%3A%20Nederlands%20kampioen%20én%20bijna%20zeker%20van%20Olympische%20Spelen,een%20tijd%20van%203.35%2C80. |website=ad.nl |accessdate=3 July 2024 |title=Groesbekenaar Nillessen: Nederlands kampioen én bijna zeker van Olympische Spelen |date=30 June 2024}} He competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics over 1500 metres and ran a personal best to qualify for the final. In the final he lowered his personal best to 3:30.75 to place ninth overall.{{cite web |url=https://www.watchathletics.com/page/5825/men-s-1500m-results-paris-olympic-games-2024-athletics |website=Watch Athletics |accessdate=28 August 2024 |title=Men's 1500m Results - Paris Olympic Games 2024 Athletics |date=6 August 2024}}
Competing in Karlsruhe, Germany in February 2025, he won over 3000 metres in a Dutch indoor record time of 7:37.10.{{cite web|date=7 February 2025|url= https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-indoor-tour/news/indoor-meeting-karlsruhe-2025-mitton-mihambo|website=World Athletics|accessdate=8 February 2025|title= Mitton and Mihambo make strong statements in Karlsruhe}} He ran a personal best 3:52.70 for the indoor mile in Liévin, Belgium on 13 February 2025.{{cite web|url= https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-indoor-tour/news/ingebrigtsen-world-indoor-1500m-mile-records-lievin|website=World Athletics|accessdate=14 February 2025|title= Ingebrigtsen smashes world indoor 1500m and mile records in Lievin|date=13 February 2025}} The following weekend, he won the Dutch national indoor title at the Dutch Indoor Athletics Championships over 1500 metres.{{cite web|url= https://hardloopnetwerk.nl/nederlandse-wereldtoppers-schitteren-op-nk-indoor/|accessdate=25 Feb 2025|website=hardloopnetwerk.nl|title= Dutch world-class athletes shine at National Indoor Championships|first= Eric |last=Roeske|date=February 23, 2025}} He was selected for the 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, where he reached the final of the 3000 metres.{{cite web|url= https://www.atletiek.nl/artikelen/46-teamnl-atleten-in-actie-tijdens-ek-indoor-atletiek-in-apeldoorn/ |accessdate=25 Feb 2025|website=Atletiek.nl|title= 46 TeamNL atleten in actie tijdens EK Indoor Atletiek in Apeldoorn
Personal life
He is from Groesbeek near Nijmegen. Nillessen comes from a famous running family from Groesbeek, known as "d’n Boes."{{cite web |url=https://www.gelderlander.nl/sport-nijmegen-e-o/atletiekevenement-next-generation-athletics-jagen-op-limieten-en-records-in-je-eigen-stad-br~a2f8ee4c/ |website=gelderlander.nl |accessdate=3 July 2024 |title=Atletiekevenement Next Generation Athletics: Jagen op limieten en records 'in je eigen stad' |date=28 May 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gelderlander.nl/sport-nijmegen-e-o/hardloopvrienden-nillessen-en-janssen-lopen-medailles-mis-op-nk-maar-blijven-vastberaden~afac9aa5/ |website=Gelderlander |accessdate=3 July 2024 |title=Running friends Nillessen and Janssen miss out on medals at National Championships, but remain determined |date=18 February 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Sports links}}
{{Footer U23 European Champions 1500m Men}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nillessen, Stefan}}
Category:21st-century Dutch sportsmen
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Category:Dutch Athletics Championships winners
Category:Dutch male middle-distance runners