Dec 28, 2023 at 11:08 PM Update: 7 hours ago
Jorrit Bergsma hoped for a Christmas miracle at the NK distances in Heerenveen on Thursday, but that did not happen. The 37-year-old skater only finished seventh after being struck down by illness last week.
When he felt the fever coming on ten days ago, Bergsma already knew what the consequences would be. “I immediately thought: shit, it is now going to be very difficult to perform well at the National Championships,” says the Frisian in the tunnel under the ice of Thialf. Sighing, “This was just the wrong time to get sick.”
Since 2011, the veteran has stood on the National Championships podium for the 5 kilometers no fewer than twelve times (twice gold, six times silver and four times bronze). A medal is not an option on Thursday. With 6.21.91 he gives more than six seconds to Marcel Bosker, who comes third (6.15.64). This means that Bergsma is not allowed to ride 5,000 meters at the European and World Championship distances.
“I knew I needed a miracle today. Actually, it was against my better judgement,” says Bergsma. “I’m still surprised at how well it went. But this ride just came too early. I didn’t have the speed and hardness to perform optimally.”
That’s not crazy. Bergsma was in bed from Monday to Wednesday last week with a severe fever. “I had a really bad time on Wednesday in particular. I then went on antibiotics for three days and that made me feel better, but I couldn’t train yet. It was just a matter of resting and recovering. I only got back to the gym for the first time last Monday.” ice.”
“Of course it is a blow when something like this happens just before such an important tournament. Everything I have worked so hard for in recent months seemed to fall into the water. But all I could do was clear my mind, going into survival mode and hoping for a windfall. Unfortunately, it didn’t come.”
Bergsma also struggled a lot with illness last season
In recent years, Bergsma has often suffered from illness at the wrong time. Last season he got a fever before the first World Cup, cold complaints prevented him from attending the second World Cup and he missed the National All-round Championships due to stomach flu.
“It is very nice to have children,” says the father of son Brent and daughter Barbara Jean. “But you do become a bit more vulnerable to diseases. The children go to school and that is of course a hotbed for viruses. But to stay away from there for a whole month…” Laughing: “Maybe next year I will have to spend the entire month of December in a glass cage come to life.”
First, Bergsma will get one last chance on Saturday to qualify for the World Championship distances in Calgary. On the final day of the National Championships in Thialf he will ride the 10 kilometers.
“That is and will remain my distance. I will try to approach that race with confidence. This was a bit of a setback, but I am not done yet.”
Unfortunately, this content cannot be displayed. We do not have permission for the necessary cookies. Please accept cookies to view this content.
Change cookie settings
2023-12-28 22:08:34
#Bergsma #bed #days #fever #Knew #needed #miracle #National #Championships #NU.nl
