“It is of course very unfortunate that it turned out this way,” said Loranne Smans can go to Winter Games | winter games”>Evy Poppe about the fuss of the past week.
She was selected based on internal criteria at the expense of Loranne Smans, who was/is furious. “But it’s the way it is and I can’t change much myself.”
“I can understand Loranne’s reaction. She also worked so hard for it and then everything suddenly collapses. If that happened to me, I would react the same way.”
“It will take a lot of time to process that. But I hope we can still laugh when we see each other again.”
Poppe does not think she is under extra pressure after the fuss about her selection. “Loranne and I are completely different people. I will just give the best of myself in Beijing.”
Poppe is naturally looking forward to the experiences that await her in China.
“I am 17 years old: it is a unique experience that you can go to the Games at such a young age. It is very special. Not many people get such an opportunity. Then I want to grab it with both hands,” smiled she.
Poppe won gold at the Youth Games. “But you can hardly compare that with the competition among the seniors. Now I am among the great ladies.”
With ambition? “If I can land my tricks, I hope for a good result. There are 30 participants at the start: let’s say I want to finish somewhere around 15th place.”
“These are my first Games and they are a learning process. There is a lot involved and not everything will go as it should.”
