In February Joy Beune can just become the most successful Dutchman at Olympic Winter Games. The 26-year-old skater hopes to be able to share her Olympic debut in Milan with her friend Kjeld Nuis. “This is the last chance to go together.”
At home in Heerenveen it is not constantly about the Games, Beune assures Saturday morning at the unofficial kick -off of the Olympic skating winter. “It is especially mentioned when Kjeld and I give an interview together,” she jokes in the luxury dining room of the SS Rotterdam.
The cruise ship, which is moored for a short stop right next to the Erasmus Bridge, is the backdrop for the press presentation of Beunes Ploeg Team IKO-X2O bathrooms. Milan is the most important subject, as the Games will constantly hang above the skating winter in the coming months.
Certainly at Beune, who wants to harvest between 6 and 22 February in Italy. In the past two seasons, the Bornse took over the status of the most successful skater in the world from the now stopped Irene Schouten. After three world titles in 2024 and three world titles in 2025, she now also hopes to match the Olympic success of Schouten (three times gold at Beijing 2022).
A month and a half before the first game of the season, Beune would rather not talk about Olympic gold. Although she understands as a reigning world champion on the 1,500 and 3,000 meters that she will travel to Milan as a top favorite. “But the fact is that I have never been at the Games. So I would find an Olympic ticket special.”
Four years ago, in the previous Olympic season, Beune was not yet a topper. At the Olympic qualifying tournament (Oct) in Thialf, she finished fifth in 3 and 5 kilometers and seventh in the 1,500 meters, so she was not allowed to go to Beijing.
Because of the strict coronar rules, she could not go to China to encourage Nuis. As a result, she saw at home in front of the television how her friend extended his Olympic title on the 1,500 meter. “Of course we called afterwards,” says Beune. “But you want to fly each other in the arms at such a moment. And that was not possible.”
Beune and Nuis hope to make up for Milan in five months. The 35-year-old Nuis is still one of the best Dutch skaters in the 1,000 and 1,500 meters and hopes to qualify for his third games.
“It would be a big dream for Kjeld and me to be able to experience a game together,” says Beune. “Milan is the last chance, because Kjeld has already pronounced that he will not take place until 2030. Maybe it will put a little more pressure on him. But it is bizarre what he can still do and how much energy he gets out of skating.”
In Beijing, that energy was not always positive even at Nuis, because of the little inspiring atmosphere by Corona. “That wasn’t a good time for him,” says Beune. “While Kjeld thought the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang (where he won gold twice, ed.). He already said to me:” I wish you a play like in Pyeongchang. “
To get into Milan, Beune, like every Dutch skater, will have to perform well at the OKT in Thialf (December 26-30). “I know I just have to prove again that I’m the best.”
She also knows that she will be one of the figureheads of Dutch skating, and as the leader of her team, a lot of attention in the coming months. Those spotlights have not always been easy for Beune.
“But things are going a lot better now,” she says. “I am a subdued person, I like to be on my own. So if I come to a place with a lot of people, I can get over -stimulated. That is sometimes difficult, but I learned from last season. I also grew at this point.”
Joy Beune Could Easily Become the Most Successful Dutch Athlete at the Winter Olympics in February. The 26-Year-old Skater Hopes to Share Her Olympic Debut in Milan With Her Boyfriend Kjeld Nuis. “This is the last chance to go together.”
The Olympics Aren’t Constantly Being discussed at Home in Heerenveen, Beune Assures on Saturday Morning at the Unofficial Kick-Off of the Olympic Skating Winter. “It specials up when kjeld and I give an interview Together,” She Jokes in the Luxurious Dining Room of the SS Rotterdam.
The Cruise Ship, which is Docked for a Short Stop Right Next to the Erasmus Bridge, is the setting for the press presentation of Beune’s team, Team IKO-X2O Bathrooms. Milan is the most important topic, as the games will constantly loom over the skating winter in the coming months.
Certainly for Beune, Who Wants to Reap the Rewards in Italy Between February 6 and 22. The Bornse Tok over the Status of Most Successful Skater in the World from the Now Retired Irene Schouten in the Past Two Seasons. After three world titles in 2024 and three world titles in 2025, she now hopes to match schouten’s Olympic Success (Three Gold Medals at Beijing 2022).
A Month and a Half Before the First Competition of the Season, Beune Prefers Not to Talk About Olympic Gold Yet. Altheghs As Reigning World Champion in the 1,500 and 3,000 meters, she also understands that she will travel to milan as a top favorite. “But the fact is that I have never leg to the games before. So an Olympic Ticket would already be special to me.”
Four years ago, in The Previous Olympic Season, Beune was not Yet A Top Athlete. At the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Oct) in Thialf, She finished fifth in the 3 and 5 kilometers and sevth in the 1,500 meters, which mean She was not allowed to go to beijing.
Due to the Strict Corona Rules, She Could Not Go to China to Encourage Nuis Either. She Therefore watched from Home on Television as Her Boyfriend Prolonged His Olympic Title in the 1,500 meters. “Or Course we call each other afterwards,” Says Beune. “But you want to embrace each other at such a moment. And that was not Possible.”
In Five Months, Beune and Nuis Hope to make up for that in Milan. The 35-Year-Old Nuis is Still One of the Best Dutch Skaters in the 1,000 and 1,500 meters and hopes to qualify for his third games.
“It would be a great dream for kjeld and me to experience an Olympics Together,” Says Beune. “Milan is the last chance, because it is already stated that he not continue until 2030. Maybe there will be some pressure on him because of that. But it’s bizarre what he can still do and how muchy energy he gets from skating.”
In Beijing, That Energy, Not Always was equally positive for nuis, due to the uninspiring atmosphere due to corona. “That was not a good time for him,” Says Beune. “While Kjeld Thought the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang (Where He won two Gold Medals, ed.) Were Fantastic. He already Said to Me:” I wish you an Olympics like in PyeongChang. “
To Get to Milan, Beune, Like Every Dutch Skater, Will Have to Perform Well at the Oct in Thialf (December 26-30). “I know that I just have to proof again that I am the best.”
She also knows that as one of the figureheads of dutch skating, and as the leading lady of her team, she will recoive a lot of attention in the coming months. These spotlights have not always leg Easy for Beune.
“But I’m doing a lot better now,” She says. “I am a reserved person, I like to be my own. So if i come to a place with a lot of people, I can get overstimulated. That is Sometimes Difficult, but I have learned from last season. I have also grown on this point.”