To the surprise of Femke Kok, the skater from Reggeborgh has passed the 1000 meters at the World Championship distances in Canada. Kok crashed in Thialf on Saturday during the national championships and has therefore been sentenced by the KNSB selection committee to a reserve role at both this weekend’s European Championships in Heerenveen and next month’s World Championships in Calgary.
“I’m very disappointed about this,” Kok responded on New Year’s Day when asked about the news that the third Dutch starting spot for the kilometer was not allocated to her, but to Isabel Grevelt. Grevelt, member of the Fryslân region, benefited from Kok’s fall in Thialf and thus finished third behind Jutta Leerdam and Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong.
Kok: “Look, I can understand that it is too soon before the European Championship distances to organize a skate-off. Moreover, Isabel cannot do anything about this at all. But the World Cup is still a long way away. For example, we will participate in two more World Cups where I can prove myself. So I think it’s a shame that I don’t get the opportunity to show what I have in me, to show what I’m worth.”
No retake
Kok is very disappointed in the KNSB selection committee because, according to her, it is now depriving her of a resit. Furthermore, according to Kok, the skating association did not take a good look at her performances this year on the kilometer, at the WCKT and the various World Cups.
“I have been riding the 1000 meters consistently all season,” said Kok. “I belong to the top of the world. Moreover, last week during a test race I rode 1.14.2, with both hands behind my back. If you see that the third time of the National Championships is 1.15.5, then I think the difference is big. Again, whoever is currently selected cannot do anything about this. I wish everyone a World Cup because everyone works hard for it. But this doesn’t feel fair. I fall because of something I couldn’t do anything about because there was a spot in the ice where I got stuck with my iron. We were able to see that in the images. If it had been 100 percent my own fault that I fell, I would have made peace with it. Not now.”
The new calendar year started with a hangover for Kok. “I am being punished for a mistake over which I had no influence. That makes it extra sour. The KNSB wants skaters at the World Championships with medal chances. We live in the now. This season I showed during the World Cups that I can compete with the top of the world. I am fifth in the world rankings. Those are the facts. Moreover, the World Cup is on a fast track and I can handle it very well with my speed. It’s a shame they don’t give me a second selection moment.”
Chase squad
There was even more Reggeborgh news on the first day of 2024. Patrick Roest announced that he would not be available for the Dutch pursuit team until next season. National coach Rintje Ritsma will now compete at the European and World Championship distances with Marcel Bosker, Chris Huizinga and Bart Hoolwerf.
Ritsma: “I accept Roest’s decision for this season. We will be working with a permanent group of riders towards the World Championships: Bosker, Huizinga and Hoolwerf. After the European Championships, Beau Snellink will be added so that he can work towards the World Cup from World Cup 5 in Salt Lake City. In the spring we will evaluate with coaches and athletes and together make a follow-up to the existing plan for the next two seasons. Patrick will also be here.”