Olympics-Short track-Dutchman Knegt on a medal hunt after horror injuries

By Julien Pretot

BEIJING (Reuters) – It’s exhausting to discover a harder journey to the Beijing Olympics than that of Sjinkie Knegt.

The Dutch brief observe pace skater, a 2015 world champion, was nursing a leg harm when a horror home incident in January, 2019, left him with extreme burns to his face, leg, chest and toes.

“I believe: I’ll activate the wooden range for some time. That every one went effectively. After some time I needed to throw some wooden on there, however one thing falls out and that falls on a bottle of thinner. And that explodes,” he stated in a documentary made by Dutch TV station NOS.

“It occurred so quick. It bought throughout my physique. After all, that burns extremely quick. Additionally very briefly, but in addition in a short time.”

Knegt, nevertheless, was satisfied he might return on skates and is again at a excessive degree, able to compete on the Beijing Video games.

He spent seven weeks in hospital and couldn’t skate for six months, earlier than returning to competitors in early 2020.

Final November, Knegt completed second within the 1,500 metres at a World Cup occasion.

“That outcome was a pleasant increase, and it got here on the proper second. Ever since, all of it went upwards and onwards. I believe I’m higher than the ‘previous Sjinkie’,” the 32-year-old stated.

“The place I managed to beat him? I believe someplace previously eight weeks. It’s tough to check, however I’m a lot quicker proper now than I’ve been earlier than. I hope it’s simply in time.”

In Beijing, Knegt may have a number of probabilities so as to add to his medal assortment after taking bronze within the 1,000 metres in Sochi and silver within the 1,500 metres in Peyongchang.

“After all, I’d like to win a medal individually but when I win one with the relay I’d be very happy too. Though I want the gold, I’m glad to win a medal of any color,” he stated.

Knegt’s first probability will come in a while Saturday when he takes half within the blended relay occasion in a group spearheaded by Dutch rising star Suzanne Schulting.

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Modifying by Ken Ferris)