Suzanne Schulting became emotional reflecting on the obstacles she faced in the lead-up to the Olympic Games, expressing pride in her achievements alongside frustration about injuries that affected her short track career.
AD.nl, a Dutch news outlet, reports from Milan on February 17, 2026, that Schulting shared her thoughts during an interview highlighting her recent struggles and perseverance.
Schulting, a two-time Olympic champion and world record holder in short track speed skating, spoke candidly about the pain and setbacks she experienced after breaking her ankle. She described how the injury severely disrupted her preparation for the Olympic Games and forced her to switch temporarily from short track to long track speed skating. Despite her frustration at not being able to compete in the 1000 meter event this season, she acknowledged her admiration for her teammate Xandra Velzeboer’s performance and success in the discipline.
Throughout the interview, Schulting reflected on a series of challenges over the past three years, including physical exhaustion and injuries, such as a skate blade impact to her back and the severe ankle fracture. These incidents led to multiple rehabilitation periods and made returning to short track difficult. At one point, she questioned whether she would be able to continue competing in short track at all.
Despite these difficulties, Schulting conveyed a sense of victory in regaining her love for skating without pain. She expressed both pride in her resilience and a poignant sense of what might have been, wondering how her career could have unfolded without the injuries. Still, she remains determined to perform well in the 1500 meter event during the Olympic competition and hopes to demonstrate something meaningful on the ice.
