At the Dutch Olympic Speed Skating Trials (OKT), Marijke Groenewoud and Joy Beune face off for the third time, this time in the final five-kilometer race.
Schaatsen.nl, Netherlands
Joy Beune, the 2024 world champion, views this race as an opportunity to recover from an earlier setback when she missed qualifying in the skating mile. She is determined to secure her second individual Olympic spot. For Marijke Groenewoud, qualification would mean five appearances in Milan, including three individual distances, and likely participation in the team pursuit and mass start events.
Other competitors are also contending for Olympic spots. Bente Kerkhoff, who set a personal record in the three-kilometer race with a time of 3:58.83, narrowly missed the Olympic qualification standard. The fifth pairing in the five-kilometer race consists of Merel Conijn and Sanne in ’t Hof, the latter making her final attempt to qualify. Only the top two skaters on Tuesday evening will earn a starting position for the Olympics.
The final event of the five-day trials is the 1500 meters, where some of the most prominent skaters compete early. Stijn van de Bunt has the chance in the second heat to demonstrate his speed, while Patrick Roest attempts to improve on a disappointing five-kilometer result. The favorites skate in the last three heats. Kjeld Nuis competes against Bart Hoolwerf, aiming to claim his second individual Olympic ticket. Tim Prins fights for his last chance in the tenth pairing against Wesly Dijs. The trials conclude with Joep Wennemars and Tijmen Snel competing. Wennemars, if he places among the top three, will secure three Olympic start positions alongside Femke Kok.
Results, schedules, and qualification matrices are available to track the progress of the trials.
