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Dutch short-track selections for Asian World Tour races

◆3 sources

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Several established Dutch short-track skaters will skip World Tour races in Seoul, Shanghai and Beijing after coach Niels Kerstholt gave regular team members the option of missing an event. Xandra Velzeboer will not compete in Seoul but is expected to return to the selection, while Selma Poutsma, Teun Boer and Melle van 't Wout will not race in Beijing.

Michelle Velzeboer will not compete again this year after fracturing her fibula in a fall in Vancouver. The changes create opportunities for younger skaters: Bibi Arts and debutant Birgit Radt were selected for the Asian trip, and Bas van der Valk will make his World Cup debut. Leon Visser was later added as a fifth male skater for Beijing.

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Dutch medals at the Short Track World Tour in Montreal

7 sources

At the World Tour event in Montreal, Jens van 't Wout collided with Dutch teammate Teun Boer while attempting to overtake him in the final turn of the 500 metres. Both skaters missed out on medals and Van 't Wout received a penalty; Canada’s Félix Roussel won. Van 't Wout later won the 1,500 metres. Xandra Velzeboer was eliminated in the 1,000-metre semi-finals, but won the 500 metres ahead of Canadians Danaé Blais and Courtney Sarault.

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Jesper Schmitz and Kiek Straathof join Dutch short-track team

2 sources

Seventeen-year-old Jesper Schmitz and 21-year-old Kiek Straathof joined the Dutch national short-track selection for World Tour races in Canada, after normally skating with the Talent Team. Both described training and competing alongside Olympic medallists as a major step in their development. Straathof won bronze in the relay at the previous World Tour event in Vancouver. Schmitz said he was surprised that he could keep up with the national-selection skaters, while Straathof said she initially found their level much higher but has begun to compete with the group. They are due to take part in the World Tour event in Montreal this weekend.