Dean van Kooij (born 19 December 2002) is a Dutch para-snowboarder. He represented the Netherlands at the 2026 Winter Paralympics.
Biography Early life Van Kooij was born in Nijmegen, Netherlands. In 2017 he moved with his family to Pichilemu in Chile, where he spent two years surfing and skateboarding while following online education from the Netherlands.
In 2019, shortly after returning to the Netherlands, he was hit by a car while cycling near his home. The accident caused severe injuries and left his left arm paralysed after several nerves in his neck were damaged.
After weeks in hospital and a long rehabilitation period, Van Kooij looked for a new sport. During a Paralympic talent day at the National Sports Centre Papendal he discovered para-snowboarding, a sport that suited him because of his background in surfing and other board sports.
Career Van Kooij began competing in para-snowboarding in 2021 and quickly showed potential, winning his first competition shortly after starting the sport.
He later began competing internationally in snowboard cross and banked slalom events in the SB-UL classification. At the 2023 World Championships in La Molina, Spain, he finished sixth in the dual banked slalom and tenth in snowboard cross.
Van Kooij qualified for the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. At his Paralympic debut he finished fifth in the men's snowboard cross SB-UL event and eighth in the banked slalom event.
Results Paralympic Games Year Venue Results 2026 Cortina d'Ampezzo 5th Snowboard cross SB-UL8th Banked slalom SB-UL
World Championships Year Venue Results 2022 Lillehammer 11th Banked slalom SB-UL 2023 La Molina 6th Dual banked slalom SB-UL10th Snowboard cross SB-UL 2025 Big White 11th Banked slalom SB-UL12th Snowboard cross SB-UL
References
External links Dean van Kooij at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (para snowboard)