Olympic champion Irene Groenewoud delivered a strong performance in the 3000-meter race at the national allround championships but chose not to complete the full competition, prioritizing the forthcoming world championship.
Schaatsen.nl, Netherlands
Groenewoud expressed satisfaction with her time of 3:56.65 in the 3000 meters, marking the third-best in her 26 races at Thialf and well below the four-minute mark. Despite the promising result, she announced she would not continue competing in the remaining events at the national championships, emphasizing that the world championship holds greater significance for her this season.
The decision to withdraw halfway through the competition was supported by Groenewoud’s team and was unrelated to the unexpected withdrawal of Merel Conijn, who left the event suddenly, reportedly as a protest. Groenewoud stated that she remains focused on her own performance and was pleased with the race as a preparatory test ahead of the major international event.
Reflecting on her preparation leading up to the national championships, Groenewoud mentioned that recent days have been hectic due to numerous celebrations following her Olympic success, which affected her rest. She acknowledged that completing the entire national event might have been challenging under those circumstances and clarified that her approach to these championships was akin to a training competition, allowing her to maintain confidence in her form.
