From the moment Jutta Leerdam slid into the barriers on day one of the 2025 Dutch Olympic Speed Skating Trials in Heerenveen, Netherlands, the pressure intensified.
Skaters relied on the matrix, a special formula for national team selections for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Only those who achieved the fastest times in each distance could secure their spot on the team.
“Calamities” or discretionary selections in the team pursuit and mass start could allow skaters a chance to qualify, which raised the stakes and added tension.
Thousands of Oranje supporters packed the stands at Thialf, eager to see their favorite skaters and top medal contenders compete for one of nine available quota places in each gender, totaling 18.
This competition was a make-or-break situation in the truest sense. The Dutch Olympic Trials provided no shortage of thrilling action during five days of competition from December 26 to 30.
As National Olympic Committees hold the exclusive right to choose representatives for their countries at the Olympic Winter Games, athletes’ participation at Milano Cortina 2026 relies on their NOC selecting them for the Games.
Femke Kok tops the women’s matrix in Thialf.
Femke Kok has been nearly unstoppable in the 500m this season. She showed no signs of weakness at the Dutch Olympic Trials.
Skating only one of her two heats in her chosen event, she left Thialf with the top position on the selection matrix, finishing in 36.87 seconds, a new track record.
The energy she saved from skipping the second heat helped her during the 1500m, where she placed second behind Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong, who won with a time of 1:53.027 and claimed the second-highest spot on the matrix.
While there was joy for Rijpma-de Jong and Kok, Joy Beune faced disappointment. The 26-year-old missed a chance to compete in her preferred distance after finishing fourth in her event at the Dutch Olympic Trials.
Jutta Leerdam shared Beune’s frustration. She finished second to Kok in the 500m but slipped and failed to finish the 1000m, which left her disappointed.
Suzanne Schulting, a two-time short track medalist, seemed to benefit from Leerdam’s fall; she finished second in the 1000m with a time of 1:14.716. The popular Dutch skater remained hopeful for a discretionary selection in the 1000m.
The situation was simpler in the distance events. Marijke Groenewoud held the fourth spot in the matrix, thanks to a personal best time of 3:54.737 in the 3000m. Merel Conjin ranked fifth after winning the 5000m with a time of 6:43.463.
The final spots will be contested by Bente Kerkhoff (second in the 5000m), Anna Boersma (third in the 500m), and Naomi Verkerk (third in the 1500m). Any discretionary selections could add another twist to an already dramatic process.
Stijn van de Bunt finds his form ahead of Milano Cortina 2026.
At 21 years old, Stijn van de Bunt delivered one of the biggest surprises at the Dutch Olympic Trials, winning both the 5000m and 10000m.
He achieved personal bests in both races, finishing in 6:09.309 for the 5000m and 12:36.353 for the 10000m. He won over many new fans in Thialf, just months after a serious road cycling accident that left him in the hospital for three days.
His strong performances secured him third place in the men’s matrix, which was led by rising sprint star Jenning de Boo. He won both the 500m with a time of 33.96 seconds and the 1000m in 1:06.843.
Joep Wennemars had the next highest spot in the matrix, finishing the men’s 1500m with a time of 1:43.430. He also ended up in second place to de Boo in the 1000m, strengthening his own position ahead of Milano Cortina 2026.
Meanwhile, the selection committee faced a complicated situation due to conflicting results. Kjeld Nuis edged out Tim Prins for the final spot in the 1000m, with Prins turning the tables in the 1500m, while runner-up Tijmen Snel entered the mix.
It was a disappointing outcome for Nuis, who had won gold in the 1500m at PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022. Now he could miss the chance to defend his title at Milano Cortina 2026.
In contrast, Snel felt celebratory. He was in ninth place on the matrix, hoping to avoid a repeat of his omission from the Beijing 2022 team, after being overlooked during the final selections four years ago.
This feeling is what Chris Huizinga (2nd 5000m), Marcel Bosker (3rd 5000m), and Jorrit Bergsma (2nd 10000m) all hope to avoid as they pursue the final few spots available in the distance events and team pursuit.
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