Education
In the 5000 m he finished third, behind Belgian Gaston Reiff and the legendary Emil Zátopek. Nevertheless Slijkhuis was not satisfied. In the 1500 m, his second event, he could have done better, but started his final sprint to the finish line too late to catch the two leading Swedes, who finished narrowly ahead of him.
Career
During his career that lasted from 1939 to 1954 he was a world’s top middle distance runner, excelling in distances from 1500 to 5000 metres. Slijkhuis began his international sports career shortly after World World War II, having competed nationally since 1939. In spite of this, realising 3:50.4 he equalled his own Dutch record, set two years earlier.
His personal best at this distance had already been improved to 3:43.8, realised one year earlier in Antwerp and only 0.8 s away from the existing world record at the time.
During his career Willem Slijkhuis didn’t just run almost everywhere in Europe, but also in New Zealand, South Africa and the United States. He was the first Dutchman who competed in the United States Indoor circuit and the first non-American, who ever succeeded in obtaining the United States title over one mile.
Owing to his stubborn behaviour Slijkhuis sometimes clashed with officials of the Dutch Athletics Federation, who he accused of outrageous interference. On the track however he impressed experts and public with his smooth, steady running style.
Especially the English were delighted about his beautiful running style, which they lyrically described as "The Poetry of motion".
His second Olympic participation in the 1952 Summer Olympics ended without any successes. He died on 28 June 2003 in Badhoevedorp.