Dutch marathon skating legend Jan Roelof Kruithof has died at the age of 89, his family announced today. Kruithof was nearly unbeatable in the 1970s and 80s, particularly excelling at long-distance races where he earned the nickname 'The Diesel of Havelte'. He won the Alternatieve Elfstedentocht nine times and achieved significant victories in events like the Oldambtrit, winning four of five editions between 1969 and 1980. In 1994, Kruithof set a world record in Baselga di Pinè, Italy, skating 655 kilometers and 600 meters in 24 hours, a record that stood for 31 years. While he never won the official Elfstedentocht, despite competing in it multiple times – finishing twelfth in 1985 and 52nd in 1986 – he remained a beloved figure in the Dutch skating world, even skating it recreationally in 1997. Born in Ouwsterhaule, Friesland, he later moved to Havelte, Drenthe, as a young child.