Three top athletes from Delft have a chance of participating in the Olympic Games in Italy this coming February. Speed skater and master’s student BioMechanical Design Tijmen Snel can earn a spot during the Olympic qualification tournament in December.
Tijmen Snel. (Photo: Robert Prins)
In 2020, you completed your bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and decided to pursue skating full-time. How was that transition for you?
“I did that for two years full-time, partly because I didn’t know yet which master’s programme I wanted to pursue. After those two years, skating was going well, and I thought: let’s see if I can combine it with studying.”
And how’s that combo of elite sport and a master’s going?
“A master’s degree really is next level compared to a bachelor’s degree. At first, it took some getting used to and became too busy. That also affected my skating. So I put my studies on the back burner. That means I’m now in my first year for the fourth year in a row. It’s not going very fast, but I’m slowly making progress.”
Does TU Delft help you with that?
“At the start of the academic year, I meet with the study advisor of Mechanical Engineering and the elite sports coordinator of TU Delft to discuss what the coming year will look like. In general, it’s manageable, but sometimes you have to do a bit of juggling. For example, if I can’t attend an exam. Project courses or group assignments are often the most difficult, but so far I’ve always managed. Fortunately, I can do a lot online.”
Can you tell us how a top speed skater structures his year?
“It varies per season. In summer, we train twice a day, five days a week. During that period, we work on our endurance and do a lot of cycling and strength training. In winter, it’s more about quality than quantity. We train less intensively because we’re competing. On competition days, it’s mainly a matter of waiting for your turn.”
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Recently, you have mainly been competing in World Cup races. What does that entail?
“At the start of the season, you can qualify for the World Cup at the Dutch Championships. It is an international competition against the best skaters in the world. These races are important to see where you stand and to earn places for the Netherlands at the Olympic Games. As a country, you can enter a maximum of nine men and nine women. To earn all those spots, you have to perform well with multiple skaters in all distances during the World Cup races. Who ultimately fills those spots is determined during the Olympic Qualification Tournament (OKT) in Thialf at the end of December.”
‘All that matters is skating as fast as possible’
And how likely do you think you are to qualify?
“That’s difficult to say. The level is incredibly high and there are plenty of drivers who have a chance, so logically, some people will miss out.”
Four years ago, you finished third in the 1,500 metres at the OKT, but you weren’t selected for the Beijing Games. How do you look back on that?
“That wasn’t very nice. I was eighth on the list. But they chose extra people for the team pursuit, so I had to stay at home. That was a real bummer, but I’m not taking that with me to this OKT. Now all that matters is skating as fast as possible.”
Is there anything from your studies that you take with you to the ice?
Laughing: ‘No, I try not to do that. When you study mechanical engineering, you see movement and forces everywhere, but you shouldn’t make it that difficult. Certainly not during a competition. Then it’s especially important to think as little as possible.’
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From 26 to 30 December, the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Heerenveen, will determine which Dutch speed skaters will participate in the Olympic Games in Milan. The tournament can be viewed live on NOS on NPO 1 or via the app and website.
Who: Tijmen Snel
Date of birth: 11 december 1997
Study: BioMechanical Engineering (master)
Sport: Speed skating
Discipline: Sprint (1,000 and 1,500 metres)
Status: Not yet qualified
Do you have a question or comment about this article?
m.vanderveldt@tudelft.nl
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