Disappointed Antoinette de Jong on the hunt for rehabilitation: ‘I’ll take that mega frustration with me’ | Olympics

Antoinette de Jong is visibly disappointed.”/>

Antoinette de Jong is visibly disappointed.

Ⓒ REUTERS

PEKING – “It’s annoying, it sucks, but it happens,” sighs Jac Orie in the basement of the Olympic skating stadium in Beijing. For the successful coach, the first day of the Winter Games did not go according to plan. Title candidate Antoinette de Jong in particular underperformed in the 3000 meters and finished eighth. Reigning Olympic champion Carlijn Achtereekte, another Orie pupil, did only slightly better with seventh place. Despite everything, the 53-year-old from The Hague shows hope. He explains why.