“Very stupid and stupid,” Merel Conijn condemns her problems from last season. The Jumbo-Visma driver suffered from a calcium deficiency, because she is not allowed to eat dairy products due to lactose intolerance. “A very stupid mistake, because every thinking person knows that you cannot do without calcium. Normally I don’t follow certain diets, but I listen very carefully to my body regarding what I need and what I don’t need. This time it killed me. I was used to training with the boys and did not want to reduce my work. Only I no longer had the same energy for the work I had to do. Then I worked myself over the head.”
The first complaints came at the beginning of last winter. “I had qualified for the World Cups and wanted to participate in those competitions. Jac was ultimately the one who realized that the lack of calcium was the reason for my fatigue. Then I started eating calcium once more. In the meantime, I continued skating, but perhaps I should have applied the brakes already.”
“I had broken my bones. To recover from that, I was not allowed to train for twelve weeks from April. Then I started walking a bit. But I didn’t want to walk at all, I wanted to spend many hours on my bike. Very frustrating.” She sought distraction in other things to fill her agenda. “I met a lot of friends and went on holiday, but I would have preferred to train.”
The frivolous skater talks candidly regarding the difficult period behind her, although it is difficult for her at times. “It was really my own fault, I was very stupid. I have been able to do all my training once more for two months now, and I am very happy with that. What you see on the ice also translates into my daily life. How I feel, how I get up and how energetic I am. That’s why it affects me so much to talk regarding it. The podium today is beautiful, but I am even happier that Merel is back. During that period I really saw spots when I read a book.”
‘The stage is beautiful, but I am even happier that Merel is back.’ | Photo: Soenar Chamid
Conijn kept her story to herself for a long time. “I don’t want to think regarding it too much. That time was then. For a long time I wasn’t sure that I would get back to my level. Now that I’m back, I dare to tell it.” With a winning time of 6.55 on the final five kilometers and a final lap of 30.6, it can be concluded that Conijn is back once more. “I’m happy to hit them. This is partly because my management is good once more. My nervous system is much fresher, which means my technique is also in order.”
The Daikin NK Allround was Conijn’s goal this year. “I knew that all the matches for the National Championships would come too early. In the summer I hardly trained, even as a child. I wanted to compete in the World Cup Qualifying Tournament for myself to see where I would stand. I didn’t stand a chance there. If there was anything to save, it was at the very end of the season. I really wanted to reach the podium at this tournament.” Conijn says goodbye to this difficult winter with a bronze medal at the Daikin NK Allround. “I’m looking forward to next year, but I already did that at the beginning of the season,” she concludes with a laugh.
Antoinette Rijpma – de Jong supreme to Dutch title
With a lead of one second and already four titles in her pocket, Antoinette Rijpma – de Jong started her second day of the Daikin NK Allround. Nevertheless, she felt nervous. “This morning I didn’t wake up feeling well. My heart rate was high and I tried to stay calm. I had to take time in the 1500 meters. I was very satisfied with my 1.53.4. Physically I’m in pretty good shape, but I had to put the jet lag aside today. The five kilometers was a big question mark, because this was my first of the season.” At no time did Rijpma – de Jong run into problems on the closing distance. She even finished ahead of her direct competitor Elisa Dul.
“The ticket obtained for the World Allround Championships is very important, but so is the title. I’m moving more and more towards the sprint and I don’t know how many more titles I can add. Each one is one of a kind and I find that very special.”
For the fifth time, Antoinette Rijpma – de Jong was allowed to make her lap of honor with the Dutch tricolor following the National Allround Championships. | Photo: Soenar Chamid
