Dennis van der Geest

Dennis van der Geest, born on June twenty-seventh, nineteen seventy-five, in Haarlem, North Holland, is a distinguished Dutch judoka, television presenter, and actor. He made his mark in the world of judo by clinching a bronze medal in the men's heavyweight division at the 2004 Summer Olympics. His prowess on the mat was further highlighted in 2005 when he became the world judo champion in the men's open division, triumphing over Russian competitor Tamerlan Tmenov with an ippon in the final.

Throughout his career, Van der Geest showcased his talent by winning multiple medals at European and world championships, including two European Championship titles in the over one hundred kg event in 2000 and 2002, along with three bronze and one silver medal at previous world championships. However, his journey at the 2008 Summer Olympics ended in the first round against Tmenov, where he sustained a minor fracture but managed to complete the match.

After the 2008 Olympics, Van der Geest contemplated a transition to the music industry, initially planning to retire from judo. Despite considering a return for the 2009 World Championship, he ultimately announced his retirement from top-level sports on May seventh, two thousand nine, citing a lack of motivation. Outside of judo, he served as the ambassador for his favorite football team, Feyenoord Rotterdam, during the 2005/06 season and released his debut single, 'To The Sunshine,' under the stage name Ippon in August two thousand eight.

In addition to his athletic achievements, Van der Geest has made appearances in television shows, including 'De Jongens tegen de Meisjes' in 2011 and 2013, and played a role in the film 'Brugklas: De tijd van m'n leven' in 2019. He participated in the 'Top 4000 Muziekquiz' in 2020 and co-hosted the 2021 show 'Missions Impossible.' Most recently, in 2025, he presented 'Bureau Onrecht,' a series focused on injustice, and renewed his contract with Talpa Network in January 2026.