Skater Nuis feels tension increasing for any chance of Playing

Kjeld Nuis got off the ice a day before his 1500 meters at the Olympic Games in Beijing, dissatisfied after just half an hour. “I had a very bad general, so I can now be grumpy for a while. Today was nothing at all, I couldn’t ‘hang’ nicely in the bend, people were driving in the way, I only stopped halfway. But the past few days it went very well,” the reigning Olympic champion looked ahead to his match on Tuesday.

The Olympic champion in the 1000 and 1500 meters of Pyeongchang feels the tension increasing, actually since he arrived in Beijing. “You see the logos and the rings and the ambiance is great. I also think it’s an honor that I can drive here. That is only reserved for a select group and I only have one chance. That is different from four years ago. everything has to be done tomorrow. I’m relaxed here now, but I think it’s super exciting.”

Nuis does not attach too much importance to the ‘bad general’, just like all discussions about the ice and the circumstances. “There is always nonsense about the ice in the last Olympics. Today was a bad indicator, but I drove well here so far.” However, he does not often have bad training sessions on the day before the race. he says. “Yes, in Salt Lake City, the day before I set a world record in the 1000 meters.”

Nuis watched the 3000 meters for women in the stadium. “I was sitting in the stands with sweaty hands. Then you feel the load on this match and you see all those tight cups. You notice that it is coming and that this competition is different from other competitions. Certainly the last ride was fireworks and super nice for Irene”, he referred to Olympic champion Irene Schouten.

Nuis likes to take an example from teammate Ireen Wüst with whom he shares an apartment. “When I just see her skating I think I’m more nervous than she is. And she has to go today and I’ll do it tomorrow. I think she’s going to do well. She has everything ready and planned down to the minute. not more exciting than it is. I have more of a hand in that. She also gave me the tip to keep riding on the 1500 meters to the finish with your hands behind your back. Then you at least do what you have to do until the end.”