The Beijing Winter Olympics have officially started. The eye-catcher during the opening ceremony was Lindsay van Zundert from Etten-Leur. The 17-year-old figure skater carried the Dutch flag together with Kjeld Nuis. Mother Chantal: “Great, isn’t it? We are very proud of that!”
With a smile from ear to ear, Lindsay’s mother watches the opening ceremony on a big screen. Lindsay’s friends and family came to the ice rink in Breda to experience this special moment together.
This is where Lindsay took her first steps on the ice at the age of seven. A special place, where she immediately fell in love with figure skating. “We were in the Winter Efteling and she didn’t want to leave that ice rink. Then we gave her a trial lesson in Breda as a surprise. And then it went quickly: from training to competitions,” says mother Chantal.
So now she is the youngest Dutch athlete to participate in the Winter Olympics, where she can also wear the tricolor. Grandpa Geert and grandma Sonja also witnessed it from a distance. “It’s so special. We spoke to her very early this morning. Then she was on the bike and she was doing well,” says Sonja. Geert adds: “I think we are more nervous than Lindsay herself. Goosebumps!”
Just before Lindsay makes her appearance, mother Chantal calls in. “Kiss to everyone!”, is the powerful message of the Brabant figure skater to all those present.
From that moment on, the focus moves from phone screen to big screen, where the opening ceremony can be seen. Everyone jumps for a moment when a red-white-blue flag is visible. With laughter as a quick successor. “It’s Luxembourgish!”
Not much later the time has come: Lindsay van Zundert and top skater Kjeld Nuis carry the Dutch flag together. There are cheers and mother Chantal shoots confetti. Unfortunately not in the air, so that all the shreds of paper are evenly on the ground.
However, that should not spoil the fun. Chantal: “It’s a dream come true, for us as a family, but also for Lindsay herself.”
Lindsay van Zundert will be in action on Tuesday 15 and Thursday 17 February.