Schaatscoach Jac Orie expressed relief that the incident between Joep Wennemars and Lian Ziwen during the 1,000-meter race was not more severe, despite the noticeable impact on Wennemars.
According to NOS Schaatsen in the Netherlands, Orie initially underestimated how serious the collision was until watching broadcast footage showing Joep Wennemars’ leg being forcefully struck. The coach described it as a near-miracle that Wennemars was able to continue standing after the contact.
Lian Ziwen, the other skater involved, has expressed regret over the incident and intends to meet with Joep Wennemars to discuss what happened. Speaking to the Chinese news agency Xinhua, Ziwen acknowledged Wennemars’ understandable anger and insisted the collision was unintentional, noting that he did not see Wennemars alongside or behind him during the corner.
In the days following the event, Wennemars was given time to recover mentally and physically, including a light cycling workout and conversations with Orie. The coach remains optimistic about Wennemars’ ability to overcome the setback, emphasizing the importance of shifting focus and maintaining mental resilience as preparations continue for the upcoming 1,500-meter race, which is Wennemars’ key event next week.
Orie classified the incident as a known risk within speed skating, underscoring that such competitive situations can result in split-second errors. He did not advocate for changes to the current race format, arguing that modifications such as having skaters start separately instead of side-by-side would alter the essence of the sport. Instead, Orie suggested that attention could be directed toward better assessing risks during skater exchanges.
Reflecting on the incident, Orie stressed that while unfortunate, mistakes are inherent in competitive sports and athletes must learn to move forward. The focus remains on helping Wennemars recover and maintain his strong form for the rest of the season.
