Schulting, the three-time Olympic champion, convincingly qualified for the semi-finals of the 1500 meters by winning her heat in the quarter-finals with a great display of power. Knegt also reached the semi-finals of the 1500 meters by finishing second in his heat behind Japan’s Keita Watanabe. The semi-finals and final battle of the 1500 meters are Saturday.
Knegt received an official warning from the skating association (KNSB) on Thursday because of his statements about Kerstholt’s approach. The short tracker talked about a “mess of irregularities” during a press day on Wednesday. Schulting was also critical of the training programs, but she expressed herself in somewhat neater terms.
Kerstholt is working on his first season as national coach. The 39-year-old former short tracker succeeded Jeroen Otter, with whom Schulting and Knegt worked for years.