Coach Jillert Anema expresses cautious optimism about the potential of 17-year-old skater Friso van Vliet, emphasizing the importance of patience and acknowledging the young athlete’s current stage of development.
Schaatsen.nl, The Netherlands
Jillert Anema, known for his candid assessments, spoke about the promising future of Friso van Vliet, a young skater recently invited to join his team. Anema refrained from making overly confident predictions, pointing out that Van Vliet is still very young and should not be expected to avoid challenges. He compared this situation to his earlier experience with the former Jong Oranje team, where it was difficult to determine which athlete would rise to prominence despite all showing talent.
Anema recalled his early encounter with Olympic champion Jorrit Bergsma, whom he identified at a social event where Van Vliet is now following a similar trajectory. He also referenced Marijke Groenewoud, another skater he approached directly, who has since become an Olympic champion. These examples illustrate that Anema’s team is selective and often waits for athletes to initiate contact, making exceptions only for those who show significant promise, such as Van Vliet.
Van Vliet recently signed a two-year commitment with Anema’s team. The coach observed Van Vliet’s performance during the past season, noting his achievements such as becoming the Dutch champion in the marathon category for neo-seniors and recording a time of 6:37 in the five-kilometer event. These milestones, along with positive feedback from the team’s scouts, led to a conversation that resulted in the current collaboration.
