A huge burden has been lifted from Irene Schouten’s shoulders. The skater from Hoogkarspel made this known in her first reaction after winning Olympic gold in the 3,000 meters in Beijing. She said beforehand that she had been “very tense”.
“This afternoon I was in bed and I thought: ‘this is not fun, I want it to be evening’. Now all the stress is gone and that is very nice”, Schouten responds to the NOS. “I was really tense, but it was also a nice challenge to beat that.”
Nice battle in last ride
Schouten rode against Francesca Lollobrigida in the last stage. After a nerve-racking ride, they could both cheer, as the Italian took the silver. “We both had a very good ride. I didn’t really know the lap times of Weidemann (leader at that time, ed.). I didn’t leave at a time, but drove my own race. I’m very happy about that”, says the native Andijkse.
“I was on the phone with my father, but he was busy with a television interview. He didn’t quite realize it”
The long track skater is not yet ready for these Winter Games. “My goal was to become an Olympic champion, but I also want to have a good race in the 5,000 meters, with the team pursuit and on the mass start. On to more.”
Soon after her race, the West Frisian spoke to her family via FaceTime. “I had my father on the phone, but he was busy with a television interview. He didn’t quite realize it,” laughs Schouten.
On Thursday afternoon, the North Holland player will come into action again. Then the 5,000 meters is on the program.
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