Skater Kjeld Nuis will not participate in the upcoming Dutch Sprint Championships, citing the event’s scheduling shortly after the Olympic Games as a key reason.
Nu.nl, a Dutch news outlet, reports on Nuis’ decision to skip the competition.
The Dutch sprint championships are scheduled to take place concurrently with the allround championships this weekend, offering national titles as well as qualification spots for the World Championships scheduled a week later. Nuis, a seasoned athlete and Olympic bronze medalist, publicly expressed his concerns earlier this week about the tight scheduling following the Olympics. He described the week after the Games as hectic and explained that he would prefer to take some rest instead of competing immediately.
Speaking on a national radio program, Nuis stated that he had not registered for the sprint event. He noted that after returning home from the Games and official celebrations—including a visit with the Dutch royal family—he would only have a short time to prepare. At 36 years old, he emphasized that although he is capable of performing under these circumstances, he has made a conscious choice to prioritize rest. He also extended his best wishes to the athletes who will compete in his absence.
