Kjeld Nuis satisfied with bronze, Jutta Leerdam emotional after 1000 meters: ‘I wanted it too much’ | Sport

Leerdam, who had a difficult run-up to this World Championship with problems with her ankle, started very quickly and had by far the best first full round with 26.35. In the final lap, with a final outside bend and without the Japanese Rio Yamada at the intersection, she gave in just too much to Miho Takagi. The Japanese took the gold in 1:12.83. Leerdam finished in 1:13.28 and took the bronze medal. The silver went to the Chinese Mei Han in 1:13.27.

“I skated really well, so I’m really a bit disappointed,” an emotional Leerdam responded shortly after the ride in front of the NOS camera. “I really don’t want to cry anymore, sorry,” she quickly apologized. “I already felt during training that I was riding really well, so I’m disappointed. I wanted it too much. Normally I am in control and would have stayed calm, but now I wanted harder and harder. It will work out in part of the race, but it’s the finishing time that counts. I was doing well and then I was disappointed that I couldn’t show it.”

Leerdam previously became world champion in the 1000 meters in 2020 in Salt Lake City and last year in Heerenveen. At the 2022 Olympic Games she took silver behind Takagi. Antoinette-Rijpma De Jong fell just outside the podium in Calgary with a time of 1:13.61, equaling her personal best, and finished fourth. Isabel Grevelt skated to sixth place in 1:13.92.

Kjeld Nuis has won bronze in the 1000 meters. With 1.06.80, the 34-year-old South Hollander finished behind the unapproachable Jordan Stolz and the Chinese Zhongyan Ning. After the 500 meters, the 19-year-old American also, just like last year, won the world title in the 1000 meters with a time of 1.06.05.

“I have not been so happy with bronze since 2010,” said Nuis after the ride. Nuis had a hard crash during the World Cup races in Salt Lake City. “I really didn’t know where I stood and where I got it from. I rode my best opening ever and accelerated well. This is a season of highs and lows. I had to keep getting out of a trough and that took a lot of energy. I just want a stable season from which you can peak.”

World Championship debutant Tim Prins had to admit his superiority in the final stage in the unleashed Stolz, but recorded an excellent time of 1:07.16, good for fifth place. Jenning de Boo, who had become ill a few weeks ago, could not match the fastest times and finished sixteenth in 1:07.89.