Joy Beune has spoken out in support of her partner Kjeld Nuis amid online criticism regarding his participation in the Olympic 1,500-meter speed skating event instead of Tim Prins.
nu.nl, published in the Netherlands, reports on the situation surrounding the Olympic speed skating team selection.
The Royal Dutch Skating Federation (KNSB) announced that Tim Prins would not travel to the Winter Olympics in Milan, despite having finished third during the Olympic qualification tournament (OKT) in Thialf on the 1,500 meters. The selection allowed only nine men to compete, while the initial selection matrix included ten athletes. Marcel Bosker, who was expected to be dropped, remained on the team due to inclusion in the team pursuit event. As a result, a spot opened for Kjeld Nuis, who finished fourth in the OKT and had already qualified for the 1,000-meter event at the Games.
Kjeld Nuis, 36, received numerous negative messages on social media following the announcement. Joy Beune, a speed skater herself who qualified for the 3,000 meters, expressed her disappointment with the hostile comments on Instagram. She emphasized that such words are hurtful and reminded followers that there is a person with feelings behind the account receiving the insults. Beune urged for more kindness and respect among fans and supporters.
Lorem ipsum The KNSB has defended their decision concerning Prins, dismissing claims that the selection was a tactic to allow Nuis to compete. Prins also publicly supported Nuis, despite his own disappointment about not attending the Olympics. Prins highlighted the importance of maintaining respectful communication on social media, recognizing that all athletes are human beings beyond their sports roles.
