Ireen Wüst earns chance to defend 1500m title at Beijing 2022 at Dutch speed skating Olympic qualifying tournament

The penultimate day of the Dutch speed skating Olympic qualifying tournament (OQT) took place today (28 December) in Thialf, Netherlands, with athletes competing in the women's 1500m and men's 1000m.

With a chance of securing a ticket to compete on the Netherlands' renowned speed skating team at Beijing 2022 (the Games officially open on 4 February 2022), competition has been fierce in every event throughout the week.

In the first race of the day, Antoinette de Jong - who has already qualified for the Games after finishing second in the 3000m event on Monday (27 December) - ensured she would also represent the Netherlands in the 1500m by posting the top time of the day: 1.53.62.

Ireen Wüst - the most decorated active Winter Olympian with 11 medals - finished second in a time of 1.53.88; Wüst is the reigning Olympic and allround world champion in the 1500m, and has said she plans to finish her career with the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic season.

2021 mass start world champion Marijke Groenewoud finished third, and will make her Olympic debut at Beijing 2022.

The men's 1000m followed, with two-time European champion Thomas Krol earning his first Olympic qualification in a winning time of 1.07.24. Reigning World champion Kai Verbij and Hein Otterspeer also qualified in second and third respectively. Reigning Olympic champion Kjeld Nuis won't be able to defend his title in Beijing, however, after finishing fourth.

Olympic qualifying tournament schedule day five:

Thursday December 30
Women's 5,000m; Men's 1.500m