Netherlands claimed Team Pursuit gold at the ISU World Single Distances Championships in Calgary, Canada on Friday @ISU
It was double gold for the Dutch women on the second day of the ISU World Single Distances Championships in Calgary. After Joy Beune, Irene Schouten and Marijke Groenewoud skated an immaculate race to win Team Pursuit gold, redeeming themselves for last year’s disqualification, Femke Kok (NED) defended her 500m title with a perfect performance, leaving silver medalist Kim Min Sun (KOR) .36 seconds adrift.
Skating in synch key to win
Sometimes, Beune, Schouten and Groenewoud still joke about being disqualified for not wearing the mandatory protective gear after setting the fastest time in Team Pursuit a year ago.
They were able to get some closure when they won the European Team Pursuit title in January. Winning the World title on Friday meant final redemption, Schouten said.
“At the European Championships not all the strong countries are present, so today we really wanted to show that we’re the best team.”
The Dutch went out in the first pairing and immediately set too high a bar for all the others. Finishing in 2:51.20, they set a new national record, just .44 seconds off the 2020 world record held by Japan.
Canada and Japan didn’t come close. Isabelle Weidemann, Valérie Maltais and Ivanie Blondin (CAN) finished second in 2:54.03, while Ayano Sato, Miho Takagi and Momoka Horikawa (JPN) ended up with bronze in 2:54.89.
The Netherlands were as in synch as possible, making the team of three look like a one-engine-machine. Schouten said:
“If you train for it, this is what’s possible.”
Beune said that can be a challenge.
“We try to train together as much as we can, but it’s tough when there’s also races. Any time we can find a gap, we get together and it always feels good to skate together.”
Schouten explained why the Dutch trio works together so well.
“Marijke and me, we both come from a marathon (pack-race) skating background and for us it’s relatively easy to adjust our strokes. Joy has a very stable and strong stroke up front and we can just easily skate in synch behind her back.”
While Schouten already had six World Single Distance titles to her name and Groenewoud two, it was the first World title for Beune.
“Irene immediately congratulated me. That was so sweet. For me that illustrates how good we are together in this team.”
Defending champions Canada adjusted their strategy after last year’s gold medal, when they made change-ups at the front during the race, Weidemann said.
“We need a new kind of goal and new things to work on. The strategy in the Team Pursuit really changed. Nobody is exchanging anymore, so we've been trying that and we've been working on that all year. Today, I think we nailed our race plan. It wasn't as fast as the Dutch, and that's a little bit sour, but that's OK. We got to build on this and the goal is not necessarily this weekend. The goal is in the future (Olympic Winter Games Milan 2026).”
Defending champions Canada settled for silver on Friday at the ISU World Single Distances Championships in Calgary @ISU
Like the Netherlands, Maltais said the Canadian women work well together.
“One of our strengths as a team also is that we have really good communication, that we can figure it out and watch the race and say openly how we feel and how we can be better.”
Triple Team Pursuit World Champion Takagi was a little disappointed to come away with bronze this time. She blamed herself.
“We came here today to win, so it’s a bit of a disappointment. I think I should have had a little more endurance practice. The last two laps today, my legs were empty and that’s not good. Maybe I should train more long distance.”
Japan took Team Pursuit bronze at the ISU World Single Distances Championships in Calgary @ISU
The Japanese women also did not train together as often as they had in the past, she said.
“That’s also a point. We can be better if we can practise together.”
Kok crushes the field
When Kok went to the line in the last pairing of the women’s 500m at the Calgary oval, she knew what she had to do to defend her title. Kim had set the bar, 37.19 seconds, in the penultimate pairing.
“To skate in the last pairing is difficult, because you know what the others have done before you. That could make you nervous, but on the other hand it can also be a good thing. Today I had the feeling it’s possible and I was very eager at the start.”
Femke Kok struck gold in the 500m for the second-straight year at the ISU World Single Distances Championships @ISU
Kok skated a perfect race to finish in a personal best time of 36.83.
“It was my fastest opener ever and a personal best. I’m glad I pulled that off.”
Retaining her title was more difficult than winning the first one last year, Kok said.
“Last year I came off a difficult season and there were no expectations. This was the jewel in the crown of a good season. Now, people kept telling me that I was going to win, but I just didn’t let it get to my head too much. I just have to cope with that pressure.”
For Kim, the silver medal was the first of her World Championships career after finishing fourth last year.
“Sure I’m happy, but I was a little disappointed because I had a mistake in my last corner. That cost me maybe .20 seconds, so it still would not have been enough, but if I hadn’t made that mistake, you never know. But (Femke) is really good.”
Kim Min Sun finished .36 seconds behind Femke Kok to take 500m silver in Calgary, Canada on Friday @ISU
Kimi Goetz (USA) took bronze to seize the first individual World Championships medal of her career.
“It’s really exciting. Last year I got a medal in the Team Sprint, but it was a little lackluster in my individual races. And this year the 500m, it hasn't been like hit or miss. I've been Top 5 in all of them, but it hasn't been consistent on the podium. So I knew I'd have to put together a really good one today to have a chance against these girls.”
Kimi Goetz won her first individual World Championships medal on Friday, bronze in the 500m @ISU
Program
Thursday 15 February:
3000m Women
5000m Men
Team Sprint Women
Team Sprint Men
Friday 16 February:
Team Pursuit Women
Team Pursuit Men
500m Women
500m Men
Saturday 17 February
1000m Women
1000m Men
Mass Start Women Final
Mass Start Men Final
Sunday 18 February
5000m Women
10000m Men
1500m Women
1500m Men
