Suzanne Schulting has another competitor less at the European Championship short track in a week and a half in Gdansk. The British team, including two-time European champion Elise Christie, signed up for the tournament on Tuesday.
The British would participate in the European Championship in the Polish city with eight short trackers, but because of the corona problems and the travel restrictions, the British association does not see any opportunities to go to Gdansk.
“While we have put a lot of time and energy into getting the squad there, the extremely small number of flights and constantly changing international rules have made it too difficult,” the union said in a statement.
The Italian Arianna Fontana previously registered for the European title tournament. Fontana finished second in the general classification at the European Championship in Debrecen last year behind Schulting, who extended her European title. The 30-year-old Italian, who took 28 gold European Championship medals and became the Olympic champion in the 500 meters at the 2018 Games in Pyeonchang, does not want to run the risk of becoming infected with the corona virus in the run-up to the World Cup in Dordrecht in March.
Suzanne Schulting during the European Championship of 2019 with Elise Christie on the left.
Suzanne Schulting during the European Championship of 2019 with Elise Christie on the left. Photo: Pro Shots
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‘Everyone has worked so hard’
Christie, the 2017 world champion, would have liked to go to Gdansk. “After a tough year, we now have to cancel ourselves from the European Championship with pain in our hearts”, says Christie, the European all-round champion of 2015 and 2016.
“Everyone has worked so hard, the team has improved enormously. We are devastated. But our health and safety are paramount.”
The Netherlands will go to Gdansk with a full team. The selection consists of Schulting, Xandra Velzeboer, Selma Poutsma, Rianne de Vries, Georgie Dalrymple, Sjinkie Knegt, Itzhak de Laat, Dylan Hoogerwerf, Jens van ‘t Wout and Friso Emons.
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