Beforehand, Joy Beune cursed the makers of the World Cup distance program. Why did she have to skate the 5,000 and 1,500 meters in one day? It was a special triumphal procession. Report of a few unforgettable hours in Calgary.
Less than half an hour after her surprising world title in the 5 kilometers, Beune lies on a massage table in an abandoned room. The 24-year-old Dutch woman specially walked to this forgotten corner of the Calgary Olympic Oval to beat the time for the 1,500 meters.
“We knew no one would be there,” Beune explains. “And I understand that, because it is pitch dark and quite creepy.” Smiling: “Luckily the doping control chaperone was with me, so I wasn’t completely alone.”
The dark space has a clear purpose. Beune needs to relax as much as possible, and not just physically. De Bornse has just become individual senior world champion for the first time and would like to celebrate that breakthrough immediately, but that is not possible. She has to skate again.
“So there I was, in the dark,” says Beune. “I tried to be completely ‘off’ neurologically for a while. No noise, as few stimuli as possible. I kept that up for at least an hour and a half. And yes, that was nice for a while.”
Joy Beune hugs her coaches Martin and Erwin ten Hove after the 5 kilometers. Photo: Pro Shots
Beune’s Sunday was completely planned out
The story of Beune’s special skating day starts at the end of December at the National Championships distances. The all-round star surprisingly won a World Cup ticket for the 5,000 meters in Heerenveen, but that does cause a problem. At the world championships, the 5 kilometers is on the same day as the 1,500 meters and she can also start at that distance.
“A very unfortunate planning,” says Team IKO coach Erwin ten Hove. “In fact, everyone was very dissatisfied with it. But we knew: if Joy is really in good shape, she can ride both distances. And maybe even win a medal twice.”
Last Monday, three days before the start of the World Championships in Calgary, Beune finally decided with the staff of her team that she would go for the double. They don’t want to leave anything to chance and create a very detailed schedule. Nutrition, race plan, recovery; everything is in there. Erwin ten Hove: “We knew down to the minute what Joy’s Sunday would look like.”
The great thing about sports is that not everything can be planned. At 12.40 local time, Beune ensures an unforeseen, but very positive change in the protocol. She rides the 5,000 meters – certainly not her favorite distance – faster than top favorite Irene Schouten and is suddenly world champion. “I didn’t know I could do this,” says a stunned Beune. “This is a surprise to me too.”
In a hotel near the ice rink, Kjeld Nuis goes “completely crazy”. “When Joy started her penultimate lap, I flicked my phone on the bed and started running very fast across the hallway,” says Beune’s friend. “No, there are no images of it. Fortunately, no one was there. It was really cool that Joy did it, there were some tears.”
Daan de Ridder is a skating reporter
Daan is in Calgary for the World Championship distances. Read more of his stories here.
Beune cheats with a few phone calls
Beune doesn’t have time to cry. After the podium ceremony and a four-minute session with a group of Dutch journalists, she has to pee for the doping control. Then it’s quickly to the dark room.
According to the schedule, Beune is not allowed to look at her phone – too much distraction – but that doesn’t work. She calls her parents, Nuis and teammate and good friend Robin Groot, who is in the Netherlands.
“I said to Robin: ‘I actually have to wait, so I’m not allowed to answer. But I’ll be happy to make an exception for you.’ Robin was very happy for me, but she said: ‘I’ll take it easy for a while.’ That was very nice.”
Foto: Pro Shots
Beune is also very strong on the 1,500 meters
Beune receives more phone calls, but she saves those conversations for later in the day. Now she has to recover for the 1,500 meters. She lies down, drinks plenty of fluids with electrolytes and eats the planned carbohydrates: a few toasted white rolls, a banana, a sports bar and a gel.
After a new warm-up, Beune will start her 1,500 meters at 3:46 PM local time, the distance at which she is Dutch champion. “The 5 kilometers were still in my legs, but I felt that I had rested for a while. Moreover, I thought: I am now world champion. I can handle anything.”
Thanks to an excellent final lap, Beune achieved a time of 1.52.91, good for bronze and therefore her second medal in just three hours. “This was a really bizarre day,” she says after the podium ceremony of the 1,500 meters. “But it has been a great success. Now it’s time to celebrate.” Smiling: “No, that won’t be in a dark room.”
2024-02-19 08:59:06
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