Reina Anema, a 32-year-old part-time teacher and speed skater, has had to withdraw from this season following an acute hernia injury.
Schaatsen.nl, a Dutch skating news outlet, reports on the challenges faced by Anema and fellow skater Jesse Speijers.
Reina Anema had set ambitious goals to qualify for the Olympic Games in one of the long-distance events. Preparing rigorously, she trained with the men’s team, Team FrySk, aiming to regain her position among the top Dutch skaters. This came after she won two silver medals at the Dutch National Championships in 2021. Unfortunately, her progress was halted a few weeks ago when she suffered an acute hernia during the Gruno Bokaal competition. This injury prevented her from training further, leading to her difficult decision to withdraw from the season.
In addition, Jesse Speijers, a rider for Team IKO-X2O, will also be absent in the upcoming days. Speijers had recently overcome a long-term hip injury and seemed to be returning to form, as demonstrated by his victory at the Holland Cup ten days ago. However, he has now had to withdraw due to illness, marking another setback for the team.
