The skater discussed the challenges faced earlier in the season due to a lingering back injury and her approach to the current national championship, emphasizing both her physical and mental recovery.
Schaatsen.nl, Netherlands, reports on the athlete’s journey through injury and competition.
She explained that while the clock does not show the full story, her path to this weekend has been difficult. At the start of the season, she was hindered by a back injury that has yet to fully resolve. Some days the pain returns more intensely than others, though it is not as severe as it was in October. This injury caused fluctuations in her performance and training consistency early on.
The athlete also described the mental challenges she faced, including moments of doubt and fear of disappointment due to her own expectations rather than the competition. She acknowledged a strong desire for her hard work and capabilities to be reflected in her race times, which was confirmed with her recent performance.
The national championships are taking place in a unique context this year, with notable skaters such as Joy Beune, Antoinette Rijpma – de Jong, and Merel Conijn absent. One competitor withdrew after the first day despite securing a spot on the World Championship team. For the athlete, who does not yet have a guaranteed World Championship selection, this changes the competitive landscape. She expressed some regret over the absences, as they limit her opportunity to compete against the strongest field, but also found motivation in the chance to compete for a title or podium placement.
Looking ahead to the second day of competition, she plans to approach the 1500 meters with full effort, comparing it to sprinting a 500 meters followed by an additional 1000 meters. Currently ranked second overall, she aims to improve her standing. She also mentioned that while the 5000 meters is not yet her preferred distance, she remains open to the challenge.
With a realistic yet optimistic view on her chances for a podium finish, she described herself as “best of the rest,” recognizing those absent as generally stronger competitors. Her concrete goal for the next day is to set personal records in the 1500 meters, or even achieve two personal bests during the competition. She concluded by expressing satisfaction with her performance so far and readiness for the upcoming races.
