Suzanne Schulting was once again full of emotion on the podium after finishing third in the 1500 meters, taking her fourth medal in Beijing. Schulting was especially disappointed by the beech she received from Yutong Han, after which she felt that a third gold medal in Beijing was no longer possible. ,,After I got a blow from that Chinese, I was completely out of balance and I couldn’t make the speed to take gold anymore.”
Schulting once again spoke to the NOS with great emotion. It was difficult for her to put into words what all those emotions were. “I think it’s a combination, that the pressure is off and the disappointment of the bronze”, she said after the 1500 meters. I’m convinced of that. I felt very strong. When that Chinese left, I was able to go with it. With five laps to go I was in third position and I felt great. I had so much confidence that I was going to take the gold, but with short track you also have to deal with strong opponents,” said Schulting, who referred to Yutong Han by “the Chinese”.
,,It was not easy for me to recover after that blow. The fact that I almost took silver showed that I was really very strong. It was a super tactical race. In the quarter- and semi-final I wanted to remain very calm and not just lead the way. That all worked out well. I was super calm and confident. I thought that action in the semi-final was really beautiful, I experienced it that way at the time. In the final it just became a difficult story after I got a beating.”
Schulting spoke well during the interview, but could not stop the tears. “I just keep crying dude, I’m sorry. Jeroen Otter just said to me that I have to realize that I am here with four medals, two of which were gold. It is not so self-evident to just stand there at any distance. When you feel that strong, you just want to take the gold. I think the best thing is that I succeeded in the 1000 meters and the relay, I wanted to take the gold there and I succeeded. I’m so glad all the pressure is gone.”
De Vries proud after Olympic debut
,,Finally I was allowed today, that was really nice. The fact that I also got to ride that semi-final was a real bonus. It went wrong in my first race, so it was quite confusing. Then we filed a protest. It was quite chaotic,” said Rianne de Vries, who was finally allowed to take action at her third Olympic Games. ,,I think I will continue with short track. I find that I still get a kick out of it, so that’s a good sign for me.”
Xandra Velzeboer was the second Dutchman in the final and finished fifth, behind the Belgian Hanne Desmet. ,,I had hoped that it would only come to the last seven or eight laps. It was really really hard. That made it very tough,” Velzeboer told the NOS.
,,I have already drained myself in the semi-finals and I am very satisfied with this fifth place. Of course Suus went for the title, but I think she just thought it was very clever with this medal. Everyone went for themselves and after the Chinese drove away and Suzanne had to go get her, it became a completely different race,” said 20-year-old Velzeboer. ,,I am very happy. It gives a lot of confidence. I know there’s a lot more to it. I am really looking forward to the coming years to see what else is in it for me.”
It was the last day of the Olympic short track tournament. The Netherlands won four medals, just like four years ago in South Korea. Now there were three in the name of Schulting and the women’s relay team. In South Korea, Schulting, Sjinkie Knegt and Yara van Kerkhof received a medal of honor in 2018, as did the women’s relay team.
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