Tim Prins will not be making his Olympic debut after the Dutch long track speed skating selection committee chose to prioritize team pursuit medal chances over individual events.
Schaatsen.nl, a Dutch skating news outlet, reports on the recent decisions affecting the Netherlands’ long track speed skating team for the Milan event.
For Tim Prins, the last days before the final team selection were filled with tension. Prins finished just five thousandths of a second off the podium in the 1000 meters and secured third place in the 1500 meters at the qualification tournament. Despite these strong performances, his spot on the Olympic team was not guaranteed. The Long Track Selection Committee of the Royal Dutch Skating Federation (SCL) ultimately decided that the chance for a medal was higher in the team pursuit event, where Prins was less likely to compete.
The SCL based its decision on data from the past two seasons, noting that team pursuit had already yielded two medals this year, while only Kjeld Nuis had medaled individually in the 1500 meters. Technical Director Remy de Wit explained that the team pursuit was seen as a better opportunity for a medal in Milan, compared to Prins’ potential spot as the third man in the 1500 meters.
One difficulty for the team pursuit selection was that the team composition has shifted since the recent months. Beau Snellink, previously a regular member of the team, did not make the cut due to underwhelming results at the qualification tournament. National coach Rintje Ritsma still regards Stijn van de Bunt as a capable replacement to fill the gap. Van de Bunt, who finished third in the 5000 meters during qualification, will thus compete in multiple distances, including the team pursuit and the 5000 and 10,000 meters.
De Wit expressed regret for Prins, who now ranks as the tenth unique name not included in the team matrix and will not travel to Milan. Prins’ place on the 1500 meters will be taken by Kjeld Nuis, who had finished fourth in that distance at the qualification event. It was emphasized that Nuis’ inclusion was not a factor in the committee’s decision-making, although he has been the top Dutch skater in the 1500 meters for several years.
Additionally, the mass start event will feature Jorrit Bergsma, as expected, and the second spot went to Van de Bunt rather than competing contender Huizinga. This selection makes Van de Bunt one of the standout athletes of the qualification tournament, given he will skate four events in Milan despite never having competed in a senior World Cup before.
