Mark Tuitert has expressed strong opposition to selecting Marcel Bosker for the Olympic speed skating team in Milan, stating that Bosker does not deserve a spot on the team for the men’s team pursuit event.
According to a report by NOS, the recent National Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OKT) in Thialf concluded with many skaters knowing their fate for the Winter Olympics. While several athletes such as Jenning de Boo, Femke Kok, Stijn van de Bunt, and Joep Wennemars have secured their places, others like Naomi Verkerk, Tim Prins, and Marcel Bosker remain uncertain. The final team selection, to be announced by the KNSB by January 4, involves difficult decisions especially regarding who will be assigned the three male and three female discretionary slots.
For the mass start event, former skater and analyst Irene Schouten predicts straightforward choices, naming Jorrit Bergsma and Chris Huizinga for the men, with Marijke Groenewoud and Bente Kerkhoff for the women. In contrast, the 1,000 meter and 1,500 meter selections are more complex. Jutta Leerdam, although unable to secure an automatic spot due to her fall during qualifying, is likely to compete given her qualification in the 500 meter. Naomi Verkerk narrowly missed qualification but seems excluded for the 1,000 meter, simplifying the selection process according to commentators.
The controversy centers on whether to include Bosker on the men’s team pursuit squad. Bosker ranks just below Tim Prins in the qualification matrix, and if selected, Prins would be left out. Both Irene Schouten and Mark Tuitert argue against giving Bosker a discretionary spot, emphasizing that the men’s team pursuit is not a strong medal contender for the Netherlands at these Games. Tuitert bluntly stated that the team should not carry a skater for a discipline that the country doesn’t seriously contend in, saying, “Go away!” as an expression of his opposition. Should Bosker be left out, Kjeld Nuis, already qualified for the 1,000 meter, would likely take Prins’s place in the 1,500 meter.
This final selection awaits official confirmation from the KNSB, and the next few days will be critical for those athletes still hoping for a spot on the Dutch Olympic speed skating team.
