The Royal Dutch Skating Federation (KNSB) will finalize the Dutch speed skating team for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan following the Olympic qualification tournament held in Heerenveen.
According to RTL Nieuws, the KNSB prepared preliminary lists before the qualification tournament, which included fifteen possible male and fifteen female candidates for the Olympic team. However, the Netherlands is only allowed to send nine men and nine women to compete in long-track speed skating, meaning the federation must narrow the list based on athletes qualifying in multiple distances. For example, Femke Kok secured starting positions in the 500, 1000, and 1500 meters during the tournament.
The current lists include ten different names per gender, so the KNSB will need to remove at least one male and one female skater. The federation is required to announce the final nine athletes per gender by 4 January. The next day, the Dutch Olympic Committee and Sports Federation (NOC*NSF) will present the official team.
The selection committee is also considering whether to award a designated spot to Jutta Leerdam for the 1000 meters after she fell during the qualification event. In addition, discussions with national coach Rintje Ritsma are ongoing regarding athlete selection for team pursuit and mass start events, with potential for additional designated spots. Among the women, the three main team pursuit skaters have all qualified individually. On the men’s side, Beau Snellink, a team pursuit member, has not qualified individually. Stijn van de Bunt, who won the 5000 and 10,000 meters, could replace him. Marcel Bosker, also part of the pursuit team, remains uncertain due to his tenth place in the selection order.
