Kok is in the form of her life in this Olympic season and her competitors now also know: if Kok doesn’t do anything crazy, second place is the highest achievable for us. The difference between the Dutch and the rest of the field is enormous. She underlined that again on Saturday. Taiwan’s Ying-Chu Chen came second: 37.14.
This is how Femke Kok’s bizarre hours went after her world record: ‘I became emotional while speaking’
When the three-time world champion broke the twelve-year-old world record in Salt Lake City, USA last week, all sorts of things came her way. The question was therefore whether she could keep her cool in Calgary and whether she would manage to get to the start sharply. No one has to doubt that anymore. She already won the 1000 meters on Friday. She will get a new chance on Sunday during the second 500 meters of the three-day skating in Calgary.
Femke Kok crowns blood form with scoop at 1000 meters, Joy Beune triumphs again
“It wasn’t flawless,” said Kok after her fourteenth World Cup victory in the 500 meters. “But that’s not necessary. My basis is good.” The Japanese Yoshida fell in the stage ahead of her. “That is not ideal,” said Kok. “But I don’t know if that had an influence today.”