Smit shares her experience participating with TeamNL at a packed Thialf, focusing on the allround and sprint tournaments while managing unexpected challenges.
Schaatsen.nl, Netherlands
Smit described her participation in the TeamNL event as a valuable experience despite uncertainty about competing. The athlete noted that she was unsure how the process would unfold since this was her first time attending such a tournament. She received the official orange clothing kit from the selection and looked forward to the days ahead, recognizing the significance of ending her season with this opportunity. Afterward, she planned leisure activities including a weekend trip to Gent with friends and a vacation, though destination details were not yet decided.
She was surprised by her strong performance, securing third place behind sprint champion Suzanne Schulting and Marrit Fledderus. Despite her success, Smit did not feel particularly well after the first day. She managed to set two personal records: a slight improvement in her 500-meter time (from 37.98 to 37.89 seconds) and a 1000-meter time of 1:14.40, which ranked second, just fractions behind Schulting. Although these accomplishments were encouraging, she refrained from making ambitious plans for the following day.
Smit revealed that she had difficulty sleeping the night after the first day and felt somewhat unwell. She recounted that her discomfort might have stemmed from eating salmon, a food she does not generally enjoy. Initially, she tried the salmon and finished her plate, thinking it tasted fine. However, when she woke during the night and reflected on the meal, she felt a bit nauseous, attributing this reaction more to her thoughts than the food itself.
