Femke Kok skates to Beijing 2022 berth on day three of Dutch Olympic speed skating qualifying tournament
The 21-year-old atoned for her disappointing performance in the 1000m on Sunday by deservedly winning the 500m event. Elsewhere, 2014 Olympic champion Jorrit Bergsma qualified for his second event at Beijing 2022 with victory in the 10,000m.
Speed Skating
The third day of the Dutch speed skating Olympic qualifying tournament (OQT) took place today (28 December) in Thialf, Netherlands, with athletes battling for Beijing 2022 berths in the men's 10,000m and women's 500m.
In the latter, which took place over two rounds, Femke Kok skated to her first Olympic berth with a top time of 37.30, just ahead of Jutta Leerdam (37.32).
“Yes, relief is the right word”, an exuberant Kok told AD.nl. Kok had missed out on a ticket to the Games after falling short in the 1000m two days earlier (26 December).
That event was won by Leerdam, who will now compete in both the 1000m and 500m in Beijing. Third place went to Michelle de Jong (37.54), though she will have to wait to see if her time is good enough to earn her a spot to compete at Beijing 2022.
Olympic qualifying tournament schedule days four to five:
Wednesday December 29
Women's 1,500m; Men's 1,000m
Thursday December 30
Women's 5,000m; Men's 1.500m
In the men's 10,000m, three-time Olympic medallist and 2014 Olympic champion Jorrit Bergsma strolled to victory in a time of 12:42.39 - eight seconds faster than Patrick Roest in second. Both men earned a spot to compete for the Netherlands at the Games in a second event, following the men's 5,000m on Sunday (26 December), where Roest finished ahead of his compatriot.
Olympic qualifying tournament schedule days four to five:
Wednesday December 29
Women's 1,500m; Men's 1,000m
Thursday December 30
Women's 5,000m; Men's 1.500m