Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ by the river
Get to know Marit van Beijnum, a Dutch athlete who will compete at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in three roller speed skating races to be held at the Paseo de la Costa in Vicente Lopez, north of Buenos Aires.
Two venues on the scenic banks of the La Plata river in Vicente Lopez, a city located just outside Buenos Aires, will see Games action starting on Sunday, October 7: the one for BMX racing and the one for roller speed skating.
Athletes flocked to the roller speed skating venue for an open practice ahead of the combined event to be held between Sunday and Monday.
The Netherlands’ Marit van Beijnum was among the skaters who came to Vicente Lopez to check out the track and train, and the young athlete could not conceal her excitement about the venue’s waterfront views.
“When I thought about the Youth Olympic Games I imagined something like this because it’s a unique experience and I’m happy to be here. You feel very special when you represent your country at such a big event.”
Roller speed skating is making its Olympic debut at Buenos Aires 2018. The combined speed skating event requires all participants to compete in three races - 500m sprint, 1000m sprint, and 5000m elimination - to crown the two athletes (one man and one woman) with the best results.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to get a medal because there’s really steep competition from the Colombians, the French, the Italians and the Spaniards,” van Beijnum said. “But I hope to have a good performance and fulfill my expectations for such a high-level event that brings together the best young athletes in the world.”