Mathias Vosté is the fastest Belgian in long track speed skating, with, among other things, the national records in the 500 and 1,000 meters to his name. But Vosté fell through the ice at the Beijing Games. “And I’m being held accountable for that now.”
“In recent years I always received a personal budget with which I could pay for a whole year. That has all been stopped now.”
“I was prepared for a little less after my ailing year, but it was hard to swallow when I heard that I get nothing at all.”
Vosté was given 2 reasons for this. “I would not be mentally strong enough for top sport, because I had a tough moment at the Games. I blocked, while it went well in the training sessions.”
“I would also have had enough opportunities and I would not have shown myself when it came to it. Then they would not have looked at the World Cups, where I fell just short of the podium twice.”
The 28-year-old Vosté is not planning to pull the plug himself now. “I would prefer to continue for another 4 years, because I am not done with it yet. I want to prove that I can do it.”
That means that Vosté has to stick to his (savings) cents himself. “Instead of an ideal scenario with all World Cups, it will now be plan B. I skate in Heerenveen anyway, because that is a home game.”
“After that I will also go to Calgary, where 2 World Cups in succession are on the program. That will be the most expensive moment of the year, but the fastest times are driven there. I have to be there to enforce my World Cup place. “
Vosté tries “not to be too negative”. However, he also draws a serious conclusion. “After Bart Swings, I am number 2 among the men, Sandrine Tas is the only woman. By taking the financing from Sandrine and myself, you give Belgian skating a bit of the death blow.”
