Sweden’s gold medalist blows Dutchmen over ice at Olympic Oval
Nils van der Poel, Sweden, reacts after winning the gold medal in the men’s 5,000 meter skate at the Winter Olympics in Beijing on February 6 (AP)
BEIJING (AP) – Olympic gold medalist Nils van der Poel accused the Dutch skating program of “corruption” over a report that its officials are trying to influence ice makers to create conditions that benefit Dutch athletes.
Van der Poel made his scathing comments during a press conference on Wednesday in the Olympic Village, three days after his victory in the 5,000 meters gave Sweden its first skating medal since 1988.
“This is not my idea of fair play,” van der Poel said. “The Olympics are higher, stronger, faster. This is corruption. This is trying to change the playing field in your favor by using unethical and immoral means.”
Van der Poel said he had read an article on a Dutch website that suggested that the world’s strongest team use a scientist to try to ensure that the Ice Ribbon oval is set in its favor.
While van der Poel said he had confidence in Mark Messer, who oversees the ice, van der Poel said the Dutch program deserved to be punished if the report was true.
“This is the biggest scandal in our sport,” he said. “We have doping cases in our sport from time to time. I can not see how this is less serious.”
Dutch technical director Maurits Hendriks reportedly called van der Poel’s comments “unworthy of an Olympic champion.”
“The measurement of the ice temperature has been going on for 20 years,” Hendriks said in Dutch media. “And everyone who comes to the skating rink more often sees that all countries have contact with the ice master.”
The Netherlands has won three of the first four competitions on the Ice Ribbon and won a total of six medals – which matches the total for all other countries. The Netherlands also dominated ice skating at the last two Olympics.
“I do not think Mark Messer would be fooled into doing anything with the ice,” said van der Poel. “But to know that there is (a) guy who is trying to show him data to get in his head to make decisions that benefit the Dutch skaters, I think that is very provocative.”
Van der Poel emphasized that he did not criticize his Dutch rivals. He beat Patrick Roest from the Netherlands for 5,000 gold.
“I have the greatest respect for the Dutch skaters.” sa van der Poel. “I would not be the person I am today if it were not for those guys. They pressured me to push myself.”
Van der Poel said he was keen to see what action the International Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union could take.
Meanwhile, his attention is drawn to the 10,000 on Friday, when van der Poel becomes the favorite but is likely to receive another strong challenge from the Dutch.
“This is an abomination,” said van der Poel. “I like to be fair, to be fair. I like that it’s about sports and competition. I wish it was not about influencing judges, influencing administrative staff.
“When you do things like this, we really have to question the authenticity of the results.”