Elco van der Geest

Elco van der Geest

Personal information
Born	4 May 1979
Medal record Men's Judo Representing Belgium European Championships 2010 Vienna -100 kg Representing the Netherlands European Championships 2002 Maribor 100 kg 2003 Düsseldorf 100 kg 2001 Paris 100 kg

Elco van der Geest (born 4 May 1979 in Haarlem, North Holland) is a Dutch-born Belgian judoka. Throughout his career, Elco had competed for the Netherlands. In August 2009, Elco accepted the request to join the Belgian team. He achieved Belgian citizenship right before the 2009 World Judo Championships in Rotterdam.

He is the son of coach Cor van der Geest and a younger brother of Dennis who is also a judoka competing on the highest level.

According to International Judo Federation's World Ranking List, as of June 2010, Elco van der Geest is rank at the number-two spot under Takamasa Anai of Japan.

He has twice competed at the Olympics, once for the Netherlands in 2004 losing to Ihar Makarau in the semi-finals, and then to Ariel Zeevi in the bronze medal match, and then in 2012 where he lost to eventual gold medalist Tagir Khaibulaev in the first round.

Achievements

Year	Tournament	Place	Weight class
2010	European Judo Championships	1st	Half heavyweight (100 kg)
2007	European Judo Championships	5th	Half heavyweight (100 kg)
2005	European Judo Championships	5th	Half heavyweight (100 kg)
2004	Olympic Games	5th	Half heavyweight (100 kg)
2003	European Judo Championships	2nd	Half heavyweight (100 kg)
2002	European Judo Championships	1st	Half heavyweight (100 kg)
2001	European Judo Championships	3rd	Half heavyweight (100 kg)

References

• Elco van der Geest at JudoInside.com
• Videos of Elco van der Geest (judovision.org)
• Dutch Olympic Committee