Epke Zonderland, former gymnastics champion, shares his perspectives on mental focus and his role as team doctor for the Staan – CTS Group in speed skating.
Schaatsen.nl, a Dutch news platform specializing in skating, reports on Zonderland’s involvement and insights.
Zonderland expressed a strong personal connection to speed skating, noting that he has followed the sport more closely than others in the past. He finds the recent achievements of his team especially encouraging, highlighting the progress of athletes such as Anna Boersma and Isabel Grevelt. Their rapid development has been impressive and inspiring to him.
Speaking frankly about the pressures of competitive performance, Zonderland admitted that even late in his gymnastics career he continued to experience nerves. Contrary to his expectations, this anxiety did not diminish over time but helped him maintain sharpness. While he has not yet played a direct role in enhancing his team’s mental approach, he believes his own experiences dealing with expectations could benefit them in the future.
One key mental technique from his gymnastics career was visualization. Zonderland would repeatedly rehearse his routines mentally to prevent negative thoughts and maintain focus during critical moments lasting only seconds. He sees a parallel in speed skating, where being fully present at the start is crucial to avoid distractions, including concerns about others’ expectations.
This view aligns with comments from skater Isabel Grevelt, who recently remarked that while the concept of racing a fast lap is simple, executing it is challenging. Zonderland concurs, acknowledging that the simplicity of the task does not make it easy, but athletes generally improve over time.