He is the World Sprint Champion for 2012 and the gold medal winner in the 1000 metres at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

In that year he reached a second spot during the Speed Skating World Cup meeting in Salt Lake City competing in the 1000 metres.

During the Dutch Single Distance Championships in December 2005, he switched this nomination into a qualification by placing fourth behind Jan Bos, Erben Wennemars, and Beorn Nijenhuis, who all qualified as well.

At the 2012 World Sprint Speed Skating Championships in Calgary, Groothuis won the gold medal.

His point total of 136.810 broke the world record for the sprint combination held by Jeremy Wotherspoon.