Tijmen Snel is preparing to make his Olympic debut in the 1500 meters speed skating event at the Milan Winter Games after a long wait.
AD, Netherlands
Tijmen Snel has been waiting patiently to compete at the Winter Olympics in Milan, with the 1500 meters event scheduled for Thursday marking his first appearance at these Games. The 28-year-old speed skater arrived in Milan eight days ago and observed other competitions while awaiting his chance to skate. Snel noted that the wait could be somewhat tedious, as he has limited activity between events and sometimes feels a bit bored. However, once on the ice, he regains focus and prepares to give his best performance.
Competing at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium, Snel expressed his determination to seize the opportunity, recognizing the rarity of competing for an Olympic podium. He stated that he intends to give full effort, acknowledging that without committing fully, winning would be unlikely. Prior to arriving in Milan, Snel trained in Collalbo at altitude, which he believes was a beneficial choice despite missing the opening ceremony at San Siro stadium, which he watched from his home in Heerenveen.
Snel secured his place at the Games by finishing second to teammate Joep Wennemars at the Olympic qualifying tournament (OKT), ensuring his participation. This is a step forward from four years ago when he finished third at the OKT and lost his spot to a teammate competing in the team pursuit. On Thursday at 16:30 CET, Snel will compete in the 1500 meters alongside Joep Wennemars and Kjeld Nuis.
