Home » Sport » Visser: ‘Difficult to skate as if nothing is wrong in the world’ | NOW

Visser: ‘Difficult to skate as if nothing is wrong in the world’ | NOW

Esmee Visser (24) has hardly been hindered in practicing her profession in recent months and on Friday she can ‘just’ start the skating season. Nevertheless, the corona crisis is also causing doubts and unrest for the Olympic champion in the 5 kilometers. A monologue about overthinking, guilt and the pink elephant.

“It has only really dawned on me in the last few weeks that this season will be different. In the summer we were actually able to train as we always do and when the news came at the end of August that the first World Cups will not take place, I thought: we can have a very good season even without those games. “

“But then a month ago the corona figures in the Netherlands were getting worse, there was uncertainty about a second wave and there was even talk of a lockdown, which affected me. on the test Kjeld Nuis in Inzell positive about the corona virus while we were there at training camp and it suddenly came very close. “

“For the news about Kjeld I thought it was important to still see my parents, at a distance of 1.5 meters. But now I don’t think that is allowed anymore; I don’t want to infect them and I don’t want them to infect me. not a risk to the skating world I assume that others in the ‘skating bubble’ also think the same way and we are safe, but I have no control over that, which I find difficult, because I am someone who loves structure. “




Esmee Visser is new to Team IKO this season. (Photo: Team IKO)

‘My head is working overtime’

“It doesn’t help that I watch the news quite a bit. I worry about where the world is going when I see what’s going on, the many demonstrations, the debates in the US between Biden and Trump. by continuing to skate as if nothing is wrong. “

“My head is working overtime and I notice that it costs me a lot of energy. That is not good for skating and that is why I really try to put my worries aside. My coaches Martin and Erwin ten Hove say that I should focus on the NK, they take care of everything else. But yes, you know the story of the pink elephant. I’m trying not to think about it, we’ll see how that will turn out. “

“I am really very happy that we as skaters can still train and ride a NK distances from Friday. But I am also someone who cares very much about others and somewhere I find it almost unjustified that I am an exception. is allowed, they are not allowed, that feels like injustice. “

“In order to be as good as possible at the NK, I actually have to pretend that corona is not there, no matter how crazy that sounds and how painful I find it for my fellow man. On the other hand, I also hope that it will do many people good. that skating will be on TV again this weekend. “

“By showing how much fun we enjoy our sport, we may be able to help a little bit to stop people thinking about corona, even if it is only for five minutes. That makes me even more eager to do well at the NK. . “

– .

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.