Tim Prins captured the bronze medal at the NK Sprint held this past weekend, displaying remarkable tenacity following a rocky start. Competing at the event hosted in Heerenveen, Prins had to overcome difficulties during the first day, particularly during the opening 500-meter race.
Tim Prins, representing Team Reggeborgh, initially struggled but rallied to finish the tournament with bright spots over the next few races. "Van tevoren had ik meer gewild dan de derde plek. Maar na die eerste 500 meter was dit het hoogst haalbare," he expressed afterwards, reflecting on his performance. Despite wanting more, the Jouster was proud to secure his position among the top three.
The competition saw Jutta Leerdam emerge as the overall champion, having performed consistently well with stunning finishes, including winning the title after securing the quickest times across the 500 and 1,000-meter races. The silver medal went to Suzanne Schulting, who performed well but faced difficulties during her final event. "Die laatste rit was echt ongelooflijk slecht," Schulting lamented after her disappointing performance. Nevertheless, she was pleased with her results overall, stating, "Ik heb een goed toernooi gereden met drie goede afstanden."
Schulting's strategy this season had changed, focusing primarily on long track speed skating after shining in short track events. Recognizing the differences, she shared, "Hier moet je elke rit het maximale uit jezelf halen. Bij het shorttrack kun je wel eens terugvallen op de ontspanning," highlighting challenges faced due to the nature of long-distance races.
Once the medals were handed out, it was clear the emotion ran high among competitors. Special attention, of course, fell on Prins, who finished third overall, representing the first time since 2012 for any Friesian athlete to climb onto the podium at this prestigious event. "Is dat Sjoerd de Vries? Ja? Mooi. En welk jaar? Oeh, dat is een gok, maar ik denk 2012," he recalled, connecting with the rich history of the NK Sprint.
Tim Prins felt the weight of his teammate Jenning de Boo's dominance throughout the weekend, adding to his emotional response to competition. "Ik hoop Jenning wel wat meer weerstand te bieden, want dit was wel een beetje de Jenning de Boo-show. Dat doet mijn ego ook wel wat zeer," he admitted candidly, conflicting feelings of support and rivalry swirling as his friend and colleague triumphed again and again.
For Prins, achieving bronze and qualifying for the upcoming EK Sprint meant his mission was accomplished. "Missie volbracht," he stated, acknowledging his growth and progress within the highly competitive field.
Now all eyes turn to the future for these athletes as they prepare for the challenges at the EK Sprint, scheduled for mid-January, where the hard-fought lessons and training of the past season will be put to the ultimate test.