Sandrine Tas achieved a seventh-place finish in the 3000-meter speed skating event at her first appearance on ice at the Milan Winter Olympics, expressing satisfaction despite acknowledging imperfections in her race.
Sporza, Belgium
After gaining experience at the Beijing Winter Olympics, Sandrine Tas demonstrated improved performance in Milan by securing seventh place in the 3000-meter race. She noted that although her race was not perfect, such flawless performances are rare in top-level sports. Tas highlighted the significance of finishing ahead of two Dutch skaters, a notable achievement given the Netherlands’ strong skating tradition.
Tas remarked that this result was a strong showing, especially considering she has been skating for a shorter time than many of her competitors. She mentioned being aware early in the race that she outpaced Merel Conijn and ultimately also surpassed Marijke Groenewoud, both from the Netherlands.
She also reflected on competing against Francesca Lollobrigida, an athlete she knows from inline skating competitions, particularly in point races where their rivalry was close. Tas praised Lollobrigida’s success in winning home gold for Italy, underscoring the competitive spirit shared among athletes from different disciplines transitioning to ice skating.
