After winning her fourth place there was more good news for Irene Schouten. The skater from Hoogkarspel is allowed by TeamNL to carry the Dutch flag during the closing ceremony.
The choice went between short track star Suzanne Schulting. She won two golds, one silver and one bronze. Schouten also won her fourth medal of the Games this morning, but did slightly better with three gold medals and a bronze.
Schulting or Schouten
Carl Verheijen, Team NL’s chef de mission, could only designate one flag bearer. “The choice between Suzanne and Irene was actually impossible. They also both have their own ‘story’. In short: as far as I am concerned, they both deserve to wear the flag, but for the closure I have now chosen Irene.”
The athletes of TeamNL who are still in Beijing and a number of supervisors will represent our country on Sunday evening at the closing ceremony in the Vogelnest stadium. Verheijen: “Attending the closing of the Games is a memorable moment that only a few can afford. I therefore sincerely hope that our athletes enjoy this special experience and will experience a memory for life.”
ice queen
Schouten won three gold medals at the Beijing Olympics. The North Holland rider triumphed in the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters and today on the mass start. With a bronze medal in the team pursuit, she was the most successful Dutch Olympian at the Winter Games ever.