The former top athlete has recovered well from the procedure. However, he remains deaf in one ear.
Dutch speed skating Olympic champion Michel Mulder had to undergo surgery for a brain tumor. The 39-year-old has recovered well from the procedure at the Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, but his right ear will remain deaf. Mulder himself announced this via Instagram and posted pictures of himself from his hospital bed.
“It was one of the worst feelings you can have. Waking up from anesthesia without knowing what you can still do,” wrote the Olympic champion from Sochi: “The surgery was successful.” It is “unbelievably beautiful” that his feeling in his face is completely normal and that he can swallow without any problems. However, it will take time for his sense of balance to return to normal.
Tumor diagnosed two years ago
The two-time sprint world champion was diagnosed with the tumor two years ago after complaining of hearing loss. In August of this year, it was finally determined that the benign tumor had grown three centimeters. This was followed by the decision to operate.
Mulder ended his speed skating career at the age of 34 in 2020. After that, he also tried his hand as a singer in parallel with his work as a speed skating coach. He wants to continue doing this in the future despite his one-sided deafness.
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