Viktor Thorup shared his thoughts on the emotional experience of competing in his hometown and the difficulties he faced during the recent World Championships.
Schaatsen.nl, a Dutch skating news outlet, reports on Thorup’s journey during the event.
Thorup described the special nature of returning to his birthplace where many people he knows welcomed him warmly. He noted that some were moved to tears by his performance, which meant more to him than words. His former coaches, who credits as key to his passion for the sport, reunited to celebrate his achievement. One coach remarked that the medal itself was not the primary focus but rather a symbol of the extraordinary path Thorup had travelled.
The attention following the competition remains intense. Thorup mentioned receiving over 19,000 messages, joking that he does not have that many friends. He also recounted an encounter with a chef who asked him to sign a champagne glass as a gift for the chef’s wife, who recently recovered from cancer and for whom the race had significant meaning.
Reflecting on February 21, Thorup acknowledged that the season had gone better than expected, with increasing confidence in each race. However, his experience in Milan was very different. Leading up to the event, he suffered from illness that prevented him from completing a ten-kilometer race, leaving him physically weakened and with limited practice, including a fall during his rare sessions on the ice. Support from others, including a member of the American delegation who helped repair his skates, proved crucial. Additionally, his coach Bart Schouten was involved in a car accident the day before the race and could not attend, adding to the challenges of the final week. Despite these setbacks, Thorup views the experience as a valuable lesson about the power of mindset.
During the competition, concerns about qualifying for the semifinals were set aside as Thorup secured his spot at the last moment, alongside Jorrit Bergsma. In the final, Thorup understood that breaking away was essential for a medal. He stayed towards the back of the group to observe, following Bergsma’s pace. They took turns leading until Bergsma made a strategic move near the end, winning the race. Thorup accepted the silver medal with gratitude, noting that Bergsma played his strategy well.
