“There are too many signals that this is what I want, so I’m just going to do it.”
That’s what you wrote when you announced going solo on May 9th 2024.
In the pre-olympic year you chose to follow your heart and go your own way. You put your feelings over Dutch skate-rules, practises and “century old” traditions. You left “the system”, selected your own trainer and a fysio, and you stated your goal: the 2026 olympic gold medal in the 1000 metres sprint.
The Dutch establishment didn’t like your move and they put in a lot of effort to make that clear. Your make up was a problem, as was your fiancé, not to mention your social media behaviour. And then your deal with Nike and your ankle. The list goes on and on. Journalists were obnoxious, columnists toxic. Basically everything you did was scrutinised, then criticised and torn apart.
At the start of the olympics you announced to ignore the press until after that crucial 1000m race 2 days later. Contempt was your lot. Ignoring journalists, who the f*ck do you think you are? You chose ultra-focus, you wanted to stay in your zone.
And then the great Femke Kok rode a new olympic record just before your race. You saw it happen and must have realised that you had never been so fast on any European ice-ring in your life.
The Dutch sport-journalists noticed it for sure and crowned Femke Kok as the winner already, anticipating that you would not beat her time. You could almost hear a national relieve when they chose their hate over belief in your potential.
So off you were, on subpar Ice in that Italian sea-level arena. You needed to outgrow yourself to achieve your dream, with a big chunk of haters rooting against you. The pressure must have been intense. It was you against the clock, the black and white situation you prefer over a jury-sport.
And you did it.
That Gold Medal is the result of a well-thought-out approach that you believed in. It wasn’t just luck. You will forever be an inspiration to people, not only young girls, who chose to follow their heart. To hell with the haters. You called preparation an individual process that requires a tailored approach, and the gold medal proves you right. Your fame is for eternity. (And just maybe some of the brass will take notice.)