Merel Conijn unexpectedly withdrew from the 3,000-meter race at the Daikin NK Allround championship, citing frustration over the KNSB’s selection process for the upcoming World Allround Championships.
NOS Schaatsen, based in the Netherlands, reports on the situation.
Merel Conijn did not start her 3,000-meter race against Marijke Groenewoud during the NK Allround, surprising even her coach, Jillert Anema. Anema explained that Conijn decided to withdraw from the competition due to frustration with a recent decision by the Royal Netherlands Skating Federation (KNSB). The KNSB had selected three athletes—Marijke Groenewoud, Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong, and Joy Beune—for the World Allround Championships starting next weekend, eliminating the opportunity to earn qualification spots at the NK event in Heerenveen. This selection contradicted the KNSB’s own rules, which state a maximum of two skaters can be appointed directly.
Conijn expressed her dissatisfaction with the process prior to the event, describing it as “very unfair.” Her coach noted that despite a decent 500-meter race performance, her frustration grew and ultimately led her to withdraw midway through the competition. After the KNSB’s announcement, Anema and their team filed a protest letter and considered legal action, especially if strong performances at NK were hindered by the imposed selections. Had Conijn become national champion, Anema planned to pursue formal proceedings against the KNSB for breaching its own regulations.
Freek van der Wart, a member of the KNSB’s selection committee, acknowledged Conijn’s disappointment and explained that the decision was based on outstanding performances at the Olympic Qualification Tournament and the Winter Games. According to the committee, the three selected skaters showed exceptional form warranting their inclusion despite the usual two-athlete limit. They believed this lineup provided the best chance at securing a gold medal at the World Championships, and they assessed Conijn as having a lower probability of achieving that result.
Anema said that Conijn had informed him on the morning of her race that she did not want to compete. He expressed his displeasure, which initially encouraged her to start the race. However, she disappeared before the start of her pairing against Groenewoud. The coach communicated his disapproval directly to her following this incident.
