The 2024 Dutch Allround Speed SkATING Championships kicked off this weekend at the iconic Thialf arena in Heerenveen, where top competitors are vying for the national allround titles.
With anticipation building, the championships feature distances across both men's and women's categories, each testing the athletes’ versatility and endurance. Participants have begun races across four distances, with skaters accumulating points based on their performances to determine the champions. Each distance is scored, with the ultimate goal of having the lowest total points, making strategy as important as speed.
Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong, who successfully defended her title last year for the fifth time, is aiming to match the record established by Stien Kaiser. Rijpma-De Jong began the championship leading after her performance on the first day, securing the top position following the 500-meter race.
Despite Rijpma-De Jong's successes, Joy Beune made headlines by cutting down her lead on the 3,000 meters. After not competing last year, Beune returned to the national stage hoping to capture her first allround title. Having triumphed as the world champion less than a year ago, she proved her mettle against the seasoned competitors.
For the men, Chris Huizinga, the defending champion from Team Essent, has shown remarkable prowess, especially with his staggering time of 6:08.65 on the 5,000 meters, which allows him to lead the overall standings after day one. Huizinga's performance not only reflects his skill but also his ability to rebound from earlier setbacks, including coming off a poor 500-meter performance.
“I had to make up time after a very bad 500-meter,” Huizinga acknowledged. His time on the 5,000 meters is particularly notable as it set a championship record, replacing Sven Kramer’s former record—a reflection of the evolution of speed skating standards within the country.
Patrick Roest, the three-time world champion, began the championships with uncertainty surrounding whether he would be able to perform due to recent health challenges stemming from complications related to wisdom tooth surgery. Though he started strong with a respectable third-place finish on the 500 meters, his performance on the 5,000 meters was disappointing, ending up eight and drifting to fourth place overall.
Roest expressed frustration over his performance, indicating the physical toll his health issues have taken on him. “It’s very annoying. Even at this point, I feel below my standards,” he said after clocking 6:24.94. Roest had aimed for more, especially after what he deemed promising training sessions earlier.
The complexity of scoring and the psychological elements of the race create intense competition. Each skater’s time on different distances is converted to points, with the goal of sum totaling to the smallest figure possible. The use of the 500 meters as the base for these calculations showcases the strategic depth involved—distances are often reduced back to this format for fair comparison.
Looking forward, Huizinga's confidence may set the tone for the rest of the championships. Despite facing fierce competition from teammates and fellow athletes like Beau Snellink, who stood closely behind him at the end of day one, his experience as reigning champion could play to his advantage. Huizinga remarked on his home track advantage, citing familiarity with its conditions and materials as enhancing his training potential.
Meanwhile, the competition is expected to heighten as the final distances approach, with the women preparing for their next heats, where every fraction of second could mean the difference between champions and contenders. The rankings after the first day stand as follows:
Women's Standings:
- 1st: Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong
- 2nd: Joy Beune
- 3rd: Merel Conijn
- 4th: Marijke Groenewoud
- 5th: Gioya Lancee
Men's Standings:
- 1st: Chris Huizinga
- 2nd: Beau Snellink
- 3rd: Marcel Bosker
- 4th: Patrick Roest
- 5th: Freek van der Ham
The championship continues to attract national interest, showcasing current talent and the rich history of speed skating dominance within the Netherlands. Fans and athletes alike are eager for what the following days hold, as every moment on the ice counts not just for personal achievement but for historical legacy within the sport.
