Winter Olympics: Netherlands win emotional short track speed skating gold
- Published
Selma Poutsma, Suzanne Schulting, Yara van Kerkhof and Xandra Velzeboer paid tribute to Lara van Ruijven on the podium
24th Winter Olympic Games |
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Hosts: Beijing, China Dates: 4-20 February |
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button and online; listen on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds; live text and highlights on BBC Sport website and mobile app |
"Today, Lara proudly looked down on us."
The Netherlands claimed an emotional short track speed skating gold at the Winter Olympics on Sunday, 18 months after a former team-mate died aged 27.
In July 2020, Lara van Ruijven died, having been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder after falling ill at a training camp in France.
She was the reigning 500m world champion and had been part of the Dutch team which won 3,000m relay bronze at the Pyeongchang Games in 2018.
Four years on, Suzanne Schulting, Yara van Kerkhof - both of whom were in the 2018 squad alongside Van Ruijven - plus Selma Poutsma and Xandra Velzeboer won gold in the event in a time of four minutes 03.409 seconds, breaking their own Olympic record in the process.
Netherlands win gold in 'outstanding' short track relay
The Dutch team wore panther-themed hearts on their sleeves in tribute to Van Ruijven, who would often wear the design in competition on eyewear and the back of her helmet.
They also blew a kiss and pointed to the sky on the podium, having previously honoured Van Ruijven by holding up an image of the same heart on their phones following victory in the 3,000m relay at last year's World Short Track Speed Skating Championships.
"Today, Lara proudly looked down on us. She has a special place in our hearts," said Schulting. "This was her dream too."
Van Kerkhof added: "It was for Lara, our team mate.
"Of course we miss her every day but she gives us strength and it's also thanks to her that we're here. She's in our mind and in our hearts. We feel her presence and strength."
The Netherlands won in an Olympic record time
The Netherlands had improved their own world record time at the test event for Beijing 2022 in October.
They were only 0.4 seconds short of matching that record on Sunday, as anchor Schulting crossed the line with her arms aloft.
The Republic of Korea took silver in 4:03.627 while China took the bronze in a time of 4:03.863.
The Dutch team held up heart pictures on their phones in memory of Lara van Ruijven at the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in March 2021
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