Officially it is still summer, but the Dutch short trackers are already starting their long and heavy selection struggle for the Milan Olympic Games on Friday. For routine Sjinkie Knegt it will be a tough job to get his fifth games.
On the first day of September, Knegt is at the head of a long table in the fort near IJmuiden. “I just saw that today it is still 158 days until the Games,” he says. Laughing: “That means I have to work for another 158 days. After that you will never see me again.”
Knegt is working on his last year as a top athlete. The 36-year-old Frisian is five-time world champion and thirteen-time European champion. In 2014, he was the first Dutch short tracker to win an Olympic medal (bronze on the 1,000 meters) and was also on stage at the 2018 Games (silver in the 1,500 meters).
Those heyday is over, Knegt knows too. For the coming games, in Milan in February, the question is not whether he is a medal candidate, but whether he can qualify at all. “I’m not as sure if I was before my previous games,” he acknowledges. “It will be an exciting season. But that applies to all men. Behind Jens the field is completely open.”
Jens is Jens van ‘t Wout, the only world top in the Dutch men’s team. It must be very strange, he does not want to go to Milan. As a result, there are still (maximum) four places left. “I will compete with eight other men,” says Knegt. “I know it is not a one-two that I will save it. It will be really difficult.”
Battle
In addition to Jens van ‘t Wout, there are nine men in the national short track selection: Sjinkie Knegt, Teun Boer, Friso Emons, Kay Huisman, Daan Kos, Itzhak de Laat, Sven Roes, Bram Steenaart and Melle van’ t Wout.
Knegt focuses entirely on the relay in his farewell season. “I know from experience that it is extremely difficult at the Games to get a medal on an individual song,” he says. “I am real and I think it is in principle not feasible for me in Milan.”
On the repayment, Knegt does see opportunities at a podium place, and possibly even on gold. But to get into that Olympic final, he will also have to perform well on the 500, 1,000 or 1,500 meters in the qualifying process.
“In principle, the Olympic selection is made based on individual competitions,” says Knegt. “That’s a shame, but I’m not going to worry about things I have no control over.”
“I think I can be of value to the relay in Milan. Maybe my experience in the section can be decisive if the level of the men is very close together. But it is up to the selection committee to do something with it.”
Official, it is Still Summer, But The Dutch Short Trackers Will Already Start Their Long and Tough Selection Battle for the Milan Olympic Games on Friday. For Veteran Sjinkie Knegt, it will be a tough task to reach his fifth games.
Knegt is at the head of a long table in the Fort Near IJmuiden on the First Day of September. “I Just Saw That Today is Still 158 Days Until The Games,” He says. Laughing: “That mean I still have to work 158 days. After that you will never see me again.”
Knegt is in his last year as a top athlete. The 36-Year-Old Frisian is A Five-Time World Champion and Thirteen-Time European Champion. In 2014, he was the first Dutch short tracker to win an Olympic Medal (Bronze in the 1,000 meters) and also Stood on the Podium at the 2018 games (Silver in the 1,500 meters).
Those glory days are over, Knows this himself. For the upcoming games in February in Milan, The Question is not Whether he is a medal candidate, but Whether he will be able to qualify at all. “I’m not as sure as I was before my previous games,” he admits. “It will be an exciting season. But that applies to all men. The field is completely open behind Jens.”
Jens is Jens van ‘t Wout, the only world-class player in the Dutch Men’s team. It would be very strange if he did didn’t go to milan. As a result, there are still (a maximum of) four places left. “I am going to compete for that together with eight other men,” Says knegt. “I know that it is not a one-two that I will make it. It will be real difficult.”
Selection Battle
In Addition to Jens van ‘t Wout, there are nine other men in the National Short Track Selection: Sjinkie Knegt, Teun Boer, Friso Emons, Kay Huisman, Daan Kos, Itzhak de Laat, Sven Roes, Bram Steenaart and Melle van’ t Wout.
Knegt is fully focused on the relay in His Farewell Season. “I know from experience that it is extremely diffress to win a medal in an individual event at the games,” he says. “I am realistic and I think that it is basically not feasible for me in Milan.”
Knegt Does See Opportunities for a Podium Place in the Relay, and Possible Even for Gold. But in order to reach that Olympic Final, he will also have to perform well in the 500, 1,000 OR 1,500 meters in the Qualifying Process.
“In principle, The Olympic Selection is Made on the Basis of Individual Competitions,” Says Knegt. “That’s a Shame, but I’m not going to worry about things I have no control over.”
“I think I can be or value to the relay in Milan. Perhaps my experience in the event can be decisive if the level of the men is very close. But it is up to the selection committee to do something with that.”