After advancing to the A-division by achieving a 6.04 time and winning the 1500 meters in the B-group, the skater shares insights on his performances, Olympic experience, and goals for upcoming competitions.
Schaatsen.nl, a Dutch skating news outlet, provides the original interview and details.
The skater observes that moving up from the B-group to the A-division did not change his approach significantly, except for a memorable ten-kilometer race at Heerenveen’s Thialf stadium which offered a special atmosphere with a full audience. He explained that throughout his career, his motivation has been to achieve good times regardless of the division he competes in. Due to disqualification for an incorrect crossing in a recent World Cup event in Inzell, he must start again in the B-division for the 1500 meters this winter.
At the ten-kilometer race in Thialf, he finished last, 43 seconds behind Metodej Jilek, but set a new Austrian record with a personal best time of 13:13. Despite this, the skater did not regard the record as his primary goal, emphasizing that he still sees potential for improvement on longer distances. Identifying primarily as a 1500-meter skater by nature, he intends to develop his endurance to improve future performances. Holding the national record in the 1500 meters, which he took from Gabriel Odor, remains a significant achievement and source of motivation.
Regarding the Olympic Games, which he describes as a remarkable experience highlighted by the opening ceremony at the packed San Siro stadium, the skater acknowledged that his results were disappointing. He felt that his energy had been largely depleted over the season in his efforts to qualify, leading to a form of burnout by the time of the Games. Nevertheless, he has no regrets about his choices and aims to deliver more stable performances at future Olympics.
Looking ahead to the 2030 competitions, he humorously declined to promise drastic improvements but expressed a clear intention to secure podium finishes, particularly focusing on the European Championships and the 2026-2027 season as stepping stones. He recognizes tough competition from Norwegian athletes but believes that by maintaining his performance levels, he can be a strong contender in middle- and long-distance events, striving to narrow time gaps on distances like the 1500 meters and five kilometers.
