Joy Beune remains calm ahead of her Olympic debut in the 3000 meter event, aiming to focus on her race rather than just the prospect of winning gold.
According to NOS, the Dutch speed skater is preparing to compete on Saturday afternoon in Milan, where she will skate in the final pair of the opening distance at the Winter Olympics. Despite the significance of the moment, Beune says she has not experienced nerves yet and is instead taking in all the new surroundings and impressions.
Beune’s focus has shifted after a disappointing 1500 meter at the Olympic qualification tournament in December, where she failed to qualify for the distance on which she previously became world champion. As a result, her only individual race in Milan will be the 3000 meter. She is determined to enjoy the experience and avoid placing too much emphasis on winning gold, explaining that such expectations could lead to disappointment.
Scheduled to race against Canadian Isabelle Weidemann in the final pair, Beune expressed a grounded approach to her competition, noting the presence of strong contenders including Norwegian world cup winner Ragne Wiklund and Dutch skaters Marijke Groenewoud and Merel Conijn, with the latter two holding recent national titles in the 3000 meter. Beune described Wiklund as the top favorite based on her consistent rhythm, which is particularly suited to the rink’s current conditions.
Beune emphasized the importance of sticking to her race plan, which she chose not to disclose in detail. She remains focused on extracting the best possible performance from herself and said she would be satisfied if she achieved that, regardless of the final result. The 3000 meter event will be broadcast live from 16.00 on NPO 1, NOS.nl, and via the NOS app, with additional coverage available on NPO Radio 1 and through live blogs.
