Kjeld Nuis has expressed dissatisfaction with the scheduling of the Dutch National Allround Speed Skating Championships, which are set to take place shortly after the Olympic Games.
NOS Schaatsen, a Dutch news outlet, reports on Nuis’s concerns about the tight schedule facing athletes.
Nuis, who won the bronze medal in the 1,500 meters at the recent Olympics, criticized the arrangement during an appearance on the television program Vandaag Inside. He said it was difficult for competitors to recover from the Olympic effort and immediately prepare for the Dutch National Allround and Sprint Championships at Thialf. These championships also serve as qualifiers for the World Championships scheduled in Heerenveen from March 5 to 8.
He outlined that the skaters will return from the Olympics, attend an event with the Dutch king, and then have only a short period to get ready for the national competition. Nuis warned that the timing could affect athletes’ performance and selection for the World Championships.
The Dutch skating federation (KNSB) appoints two skaters directly for the World Championships, with a third spot available through results at the national championships. Nuis suggested that the athlete qualifying through the national event might be at a disadvantage due to the tight schedule and potentially diminished form.
This is not the first instance in which Nuis has voiced criticism of the KNSB’s selection processes. In December, he expressed frustration over the Olympic qualification system after his partner, Joy Beune, failed to qualify for the 1,500 meters despite strong World Cup performances, describing the system as unfair.
