Dutch Winter Olympic speed skating stars Jutta Leerdam and Joy Beune have opted to skip the ISU World Cup stop in Hamar, Norway, choosing instead to fully concentrate on the Dutch Olympic Trials. The decision highlights the extraordinary pressure and importance of Olympic qualification in the Netherlands, where competition for spots at Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026 is among the fiercest in the world.
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While World Cup events usually provide crucial race rhythm and ranking points, the Dutch Trials carry far greater weight. For Leerdam and Beune, success or failure at the Trials will define their Olympic future, making focused preparation a priority over additional international starts.
Winter Olympic 2026: Why the Dutch Olympic Trials Matter More Than a World Cup
In most countries, Olympic qualification is spread across multiple races or ranking systems. In the Netherlands, however, the Trials are brutally simple. Finish in the top three in your distance, or your Olympic dream is over.
This reality makes the Dutch Trials one of the most intense events in global Winter Olympic speed skating. World champions and Olympic medalists often fail to qualify, while lesser-known skaters can suddenly rise to prominence. For athletes like Leerdam and Beune, the pressure is immense, and every detail of preparation matters. Skipping the Hamar World Cup allows them to avoid unnecessary fatigue, reduce travel stress, and focus entirely on being at their physical and mental peak when it matters most. You Can Read Winter Olympic 2026: Jordan Stolz the Unstoppable Force of Olympic Speed Skating
Jutta Leerdam’s Calculated Olympic Approach
Jutta Leerdam is one of the most recognizable faces in speed skating. A world champion and Olympic silver medalist, she enters the Winter Olympic 2026 cycle with high expectations and unfinished business.
Leerdam has spoken openly about how nerve-wracking the Dutch Trials can be, even for experienced athletes. One race, one mistake, or one moment of hesitation can erase years of preparation. By skipping Hamar, she gains extra time to fine-tune her starts, sharpen her race execution, and manage the mental load that comes with Olympic qualification. Her focus remains firmly on the 1000 meters, where she hopes to challenge for Olympic gold in Cortina. That ambition begins not on the World Cup circuit, but at the Trials.
Winter Olympic 2026: Joy Beune’s Rise and Strategic Focus
Joy Beune’s decision to skip Hamar reflects her growing confidence and maturity as an elite athlete. Over the past two seasons, she has established herself as one of the Netherlands’ strongest all-round skaters, with particular strength in the 1500 meters, longer distances, and team events.
Beune understands that maintaining consistent form through the season is less important than peaking at the right moment. The Trials demand precision, composure, and flawless execution. Extra training time allows her to focus on endurance, pacing strategy, and technical efficiency—areas where she has made significant progress. For Beune, this decision is not about avoiding competition. It is about respecting how decisive the Trials truly are.
The Mental Challenge of Olympic Qualification
Winter Olympic Speed skating is as much a mental battle as a physical one, and nowhere is that more evident than at the Dutch Trials. Athletes must manage expectations from coaches, media, sponsors, and themselves—all while delivering a perfect race under extreme pressure.
Leerdam has emphasized the importance of mental clarity in recent seasons. Beune, too, has grown more confident in handling high-stakes environments. Skipping the Hamar World Cup helps both athletes reduce distractions and protect their mindset during the final stretch before qualification. In a sport decided by hundredths of a second, mental calm can be just as valuable as physical strength.
The Depth of Dutch Winter Olympic Speed Skating
The Netherlands boasts unmatched depth in women’s Winter Olympic speed skating. Olympic champions, world title holders, and rising stars all compete for the same limited number of Olympic spots.
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Leerdam and Beune will face fierce competition from skaters such as Femke Kok, Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong, Marijke Groenewoud, Melissa Wijfje, and Irene Schouten. Many of these athletes are capable of podium finishes at the Olympics, yet only a handful will make the team. This depth is precisely why the Trials are considered more stressful than the Olympics themselves—and why careful preparation is essential.
Winter Olympic 2026: Why Skipping Hamar Makes Sense
While racing often builds confidence, it also carries risks. Travel fatigue, illness, minor injuries, or even poor ice conditions can disrupt an athlete’s rhythm just weeks before the Trials. By staying home, Leerdam and Beune can control their environment. They can follow tailored training plans, recover properly, and avoid unnecessary exposure to risks. Coaches generally support this approach when Olympic qualification is the clear priority. In elite sport, sometimes the smartest move is knowing when not to race.
Preparing for Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026
The Winter Olympic 2026 promise to be a spectacular showcase for Winter Olympic speed skating. With outdoor venues and potentially variable conditions, athletes will need not only speed but adaptability and confidence. Both Leerdam and Beune see Cortina as a stage where preparation and precision will matter more than ever. Their decisions now are aimed at ensuring they arrive at the Games ready to perform at their absolute best—assuming they first secure qualification.
Skipping a World Cup event can invite scrutiny, but for Leerdam and Beune, the choice reflects experience rather than hesitation. They know the system. They understand the stakes. And they trust their preparation. Both athletes have proven themselves on the world stage. Now, their focus narrows to one defining moment—the Dutch Olympic Trials. Everything else is secondary.
That confidence is grounded in an understanding of how ruthless Dutch speed skating can be, where Olympic places are decided by fractions of a second rather than reputation. Leerdam and Beune are not seeking validation through constant racing; instead, they are prioritizing precision, recovery, and perfectly timed form. By structuring their season around the trials, they acknowledge that one flawless performance carries more weight than multiple strong outings, a mindset that underscores their maturity and belief in their own process.
Winter Olympic Speed Skating: All Eyes on the Dutch Olympic Trials
Jutta Leerdam and Joy Beune’s absence from the Hamar World Cup is not a setback. It is a clear statement of intent. Their priority is Olympic qualification, and they are willing to make tough choices to give themselves the best possible chance.
When the Dutch Olympic Trials begin, the spotlight will be intense. For Leerdam and Beune, success will open the door to Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026. Failure will end the journey before it begins.nThat reality is what makes their decision both understandable and powerful—and why the Winter Olympic speed skating world will be watching closely.
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