Wil van Beveren

Wijnand "Wil" van Beveren (28 December 1911 – 5 October 2003) was a Dutch sprinter. He competed in the 100 m, 200 m and 4×100 metres relay at the 1936 Summer Olympics and finished sixth in the 200 m, running against Jesse Owens. In the relay, the Dutch team was close to a medal, but failed at a baton transfer.[1]

Van Beveren was a medal favorite in the 100 m at the 1938 European Championships, but finished fourth. He won three national titles, two in the 200 m (1937 and 1939) and one in 100 m (1939). After World War II, he retired from competitions and became a sports journalist, first with the weekly magazine Sport & Sportwereld and then with Emmer Courant. His two sons, Jan van Beveren and Wil van Beveren Jr., became professional football players.[1]