Beune: OKT Disappointment & World Cup Regret

“We have to move on, right?” Joy Beune is smiling in front of the camera again in Inzell, the day before the World Cup races there. That was different a month ago, when she missed out on an Olympic ticket for the 1,500 meters, her favorite distance.

“I was quite ill from it,” says Beune, who may start in the 3,000 meters at the Winter Games in Milan next month. “I was really sick for two days, then I had another two days where I didn’t really feel like it anymore.”

Beune says he has now processed it. “I have had to accept that this is the case, but it has not been easy. I have often sat at home angry. But I just did not place myself. It is not nice to say to yourself, but I ruined it myself.”

And when the training sessions on the ice started again, the three-time world champion at an individual distance quickly changed his mind. “There is simply nothing more fun than this,” she thought the moment she started training again. “I’m just going to make the best of it at the Games, I can go for gold.”

But first Beune can go for gold in Inzell, where the last World Cup races of the season will be held next weekend. She will also ride the 1,500 meters there, the distance she will have to watch at the Games.

“I had no doubts about riding it this weekend. I am still in a very good position in the World Cup rankings and I certainly want to continue riding 1,500 meters. And I may also ride a World Cup all-round.”

Enough reasons to skate the middle distance, but the question is whether she can actually win. “This is not the race where I will peak, we have trained quite a lot. But it is going quite well, so I think I will ride well.”

She does ride with a bruised finger, probably suffered while putting on her skates during training.