The Dutch women currently occupy all three podium positions at the World Sprint Championships after the first day of competition in Thialf, Heerenveen, with Femke Kok taking the lead.
NOS, a Dutch news outlet, reports on the latest results.
At 25 years old, Femke Kok set a new track record on the 500-meter race, completing it in 36.67 seconds. She also posted a strong time on the 1,000-meter race with 1:13.10, finishing more than a second ahead of her compatriot Suzanne Schulting, who currently occupies second place overall after the two distances. Marrit Fledderus holds third place but faces a strong challenge from Poland’s Kaja Ziomek-Nogal for the bronze medal in the upcoming races on Friday.
Before the event, there was some uncertainty about how well Kok would perform in Heerenveen, especially after her Olympic success in Milan where she won gold on the 500 meters and silver on the 1,000 meters. Kok herself described approaching the championships with a “mixed feeling,” as the Olympics were her main focus and the World Sprint Championships were considered more of an additional event. Nevertheless, she continued her impressive streak, winning her 24th consecutive 500-meter race with a remarkably strong start and setting the fastest time ever recorded at Thialf.
With this performance, Kok took an important step toward achieving the title of world sprint champion, a distinction she has yet to earn after finishing second in the championships in both 2022 and 2024. Kok expressed satisfaction with the start of the tournament, appreciating the motivation gained by being introduced as the Olympic champion, and stated her commitment to performing well throughout the competition.
The absence of Jutta Leerdam, who ended her season after the Olympic Games, left Suzanne Schulting as Kok’s main competitor. The 28-year-old Dutch skater showcased her strength with a 500-meter time of 37.30 seconds, just shy of her personal best of 37.24 seconds. Although Schulting was more than a second slower than Kok in the 1,000 meters, she remained positive, indicating she was focused on strong performances rather than overall placement at this stage.
Marrit Fledderus also performed well, finishing fourth on both the 500 and 1,000-meter races, and currently holds third place in the overall standings with a narrow advantage over Poland’s Kaja Ziomek-Nogal. The competition will continue on Friday with the second 500-meter and 1,000-meter races scheduled, which will be decisive for the final rankings.
