This isn’t just another retirement post—it’s the end of a chapter that defined Dutch high jump. For over a decade, he carried the weight of a nation’s hopes and the quiet pride of a sport that doesn’t always make headlines. He wasn’t just a two-time European champion. He wasn’t just the guy who matched a national record that stood untouched for 21 years. And he wasn’t just the one who racked up over twenty Dutch national titles like clockwork. He was the one you watched because he cared. And this is where we see– that sometimes, a farewell says more about a career than any medal ever could!

He juggled sports and studies, faced setbacks, yet never stopped chasing that perfect leap. And now, as his spikes come off for the last time, it’s a farewell that has left fans quietly emotional. We here talk about the legend Douwe Amels—the man who put the Dutch high jump on the map. And now, he’s taking a bow.

“It is time,” begins Douwe Amels in a heartfelt Instagram post on May 22, announcing his retirement. “After 15 years of professional high jump, I have decided to retire.” And just like that, one of the most consistent and quietly brilliant careers in Dutch athletics finds its closing chapter. There was no injury. No dramatic fall from form. No external nudge. The decision came from within. “The fire to go all out every day doesn’t burn as brightly as before,” Amels explained. “And without that fire, elite sports doesn’t give me the joy it once did.”

Amels’ incredible journey began in 2010, when he broke the national junior high jump record and represented the Netherlands at the World Juniors in Moncton, Canada. He went on to become a two-time European champion and claimed over 20 Dutch national titles.

The picture that he posted for the farewell is of him atop the podium with his gold medal from the 2023 European Indoor Championships in Istanbul. That day, Douwe jumped 2.31m to not just win the gold, but to equal the national record and give the Netherlands its first-ever men’s high jump title at the event.

It was a finish fitting of his story—his final leap at the 2025 European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, held in front of a home crowd. Although he didn’t qualify for the final, jumping 2.13m, he still wore the coveted Golden Bib. “It is very special that my last official competition was in front of a home crowd,” he continued.

Fans bid farewell as Track and field star Douwe Amels takes final bow

The moment Douwe Amels said, “It is time,” fans across the globe felt a collective lump in their throats. The reactions came in quickly, emotional, sincere, and overflowing with love. “Love you man. ❤️ will miss you at the track. 😢 The original Flying Dutchman!” one fan wrote. This was a reference to the time he created history. Who could forget Istanbul 2023, where he cleared 2.31m, equaling a 21-year-old national record to strike gold and becoming the first Dutchman to claim a medal since Ruud Wielart, who won bronze way back in 1977?

“Congratulations on the amazing career! We will miss you, 🥲” another comment read. And it wasn’t just about the medals. It was about the memories. The boy from Friesland, who grew through the ranks—from finishing 9th at the 2010 World Junior Championships to finally standing atop the podium in Tampere and Istanbul—left fans with a scrapbook of moments from Track and field athlete’s journey.

Some couldn’t hold back their tears. “This lets me tear up a bit, but I know nothing other than great things come for you after this episode in life. ❤️ so much to look forward to, so much to look back at 🙏,” read one reply.

“My brother… Seeing this post leaves me speechless. 🥲. It makes me go way back to the very first time I came to Europe. I met you in my first international high jump competition.” And finally, “We will miss you, Douwe ❤️❤️”—short, sweet, and full of feeling.

Soon after, as fans filled the track and field star’s inbox, Amels posted a quiet acknowledgment on his Instagram stories: “Feel so much love for everyone that has been a part of my career. Your messages, stories, and photos make me tear up every time I see a new one 😭.” One story read. “I’m completely overwhelmed by all your kind messages.” “I’m reading them all and will reply to them too.” Another story from him read.

His story has left a lasting impression. And though the spikes are hung, the memories, the quiet resilience, and that golden flight in Istanbul? They stay with everyone who has ever watched him jump.