Bloemen pushing hard for golden finish at Olympics
Dutch-born speedskater a serious medal hopeful for Canada in Pyeong Chang
It’s becoming clear Ted-Jan Bloemen is sick of silver.
Oh, it’s a nice colour and all, and it does make for very fine jewelry, but it’s starting to clash with his red Canadian garb.
Something like gold would be more his style.
“I’ve had so many people come up to me and say those races were so exciting. It was really a good battle for gold and silver there,” Bloemen said with a sigh. “For me, obviously, drawing the short stick every time is a little frustrating, so that’s not really where I want to be. I want to be winning that gold medal. It’s only by a little bit, but I want to have that gold medal.”
Since he began competing for Canada in the summer of 2014, the Dutch-born speedskater has progressed to a point where he’s one of this country’s top hopes for a medal at next February’s Olympic Games in Pyeong Chang. He’ll get an opportunity to continue that evolution beginning Friday with the ISU World Cup races taking part at Calgary’s Olympic Oval.
In his first two World Cups of this season, in the Netherlands and Norway, the 31-year-old has finished second in both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres, behind his nemesis and one of the finest, Dutch legend Sven Kramer.
“I definitely feel like I’ve improved a lot since last season,” Bloemen said. “I’m definitely better than I’ve ever been so what more can you really wish for, right? But I think it’s still early in the season. I haven’t raced with Sven Kramer in the past a lot, so I’m really learning from these races in the World Cup.”
“I’m very happy with what he’s shown,” said Bloemen’s coach, Bart Schouten. “We’re still hoping for the gold medal, obviously, but he’s made some big steps over the last couple of years. He’s now really close and challenging the best guy in the world, who has been consistently the best over the last maybe eight years or even longer.
“It’s fun to see that he’s capable of challenging him and really setting up a rivalry. We’re coming up with strategies, finding ways to be able to beat him at the Olympics.”
The learning Bloemen has done these past few years has gotten him into the situation he is in today — scrapping with the elites in the sport.
“It’s an Olympic season, and you’re trying to do everything right,” Bloemen said. “Being so close, it just keeps me on my toes, it keeps me sharp, and it keeps me motivated to do what I need to do every day.”
“Two years ago, he really came on strong, but unfortunately, there was a cut in his leg that stopped his progress,” Bloemen’s coach said. “So last year, he had to prove that the first year wasn’t a fluke, and that’s always a challenge for athletes: ‘Can I do it again?’ That’s always the question.
“So last year, he got the confirmation he could actually do it again, and this year, we really worked on his self-confidence. Mentally, he’s way more consistent and he’s got a lot of confidence from that — he knows he’s done everything he can. He’s more fit, too — the bike tests show that he’s fitter than ever. So there are a lot of things coming together.”
Technically, Bloemen has not qualified for the Games. He needs to remain in the top-five in the World Cup points ranking (he’s second). That’s what makes this upcoming race in Calgary and the subsequent one in Salt Lake City crucial.
“They’re really critical, very important,” Schouten said. “We also have internal time standards that they have to achieve as well. And they’re not easy, Top 16 in the world. They’re being challenged to skate these times, otherwise you’re not going to the Olympics.”
Considering Bloemen owns the 10,000-metre record — it used to belong to Kramer but was broken in 2015 — there are tangible reasons for optimism.
“I think a lot of it is belief,” Schouten said. “If people believe in themselves, I think they can win. And I think that Ted believes that if he has the race he’s capable of, he can win. I think that can be the difference. How you deal with pressure, I think he’s made great strides. There’s going to be great pressure at the Olympics, you can’t deny that — you just have to accept it and work with it. For Ted, where he’s coming from, any medal is great. But if he can win ...”