After a period of limited skating activity due to injury, Elisa Dul is focusing on recovery and looking forward to returning to competition.
Schaatsen.nl, a Dutch skating news outlet, reports on Dul’s current status and outlook.
Elisa Dul has been largely absent from the ice as she concentrates on rehabilitation following an injury. While practical training has been minimal, much of her attention has been on the recent Olympic Qualification Tournament (OKT). She has started to reintroduce skating gradually, guided by her physiotherapist who provided specific exercises to support her recovery. Dul spends most of her rehabilitation at home, carefully monitoring her condition daily.
Recently, Dul visited Thialf to watch the three-kilometer event, a race she had hoped to compete in herself. The experience was emotionally challenging, as it reminded her of the goals interrupted by her injury. Observing her teammates setting personal records highlighted both the enjoyment of witnessing their success and the difficult reality that she was unable to participate.
The OKT received significant media coverage, including from NOS, allowing skating fans across the Netherlands to share in the emotions of the event. Highlights included Bente Kerkhoff’s triumphant qualification for the Olympics in the five-kilometer event, which brought visible relief and joy among teammates. Dul expressed admiration for her colleagues’ performances and the fact that three women, as well as Jorrit Bergsma, secured spots for the Milan Olympics.
Looking ahead, Dul plans to spend the transition into 2025 with friend and teammate Marijke Groenewoud, reflecting on the challenges of the past year while setting goals for the future. She remains hopeful that her period of setbacks is behind her and is eager to rebuild her strength and form. Despite past injuries such as a dislocated shoulder, she has not previously experienced fractures and is optimistic about resuming regular training soon.
