She is a three-time Belgian all-round champion; she also holds the Belgian records in all distances. At the 2019 European Championships, she took second place in the unofficial 3000m distance. She took silver in the 1000 meters at the 2021 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships. On 11 February 2022, she took a historic bronze medal in the Women’s 1000 meters at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, becoming the first Belgian woman to win a medal at a Winter Olympic Games in an individual event.
In this interview Hanne Desmet, Belgian short track speed skater, talks about her fitness regime, diet, and success story.
Namita Nayyar:
You were born in Wilrijk, but now have been living for the past few years in Heerenveen, Netherlands. Where you are trained on a daily basis with the highly regarded Shorttrack TeamNL. You became a three-time Belgian all-round champion in short track speed skating. This later propelled your career to the height where you have been at the top of the world in short track speed skating. Tell us more about your professional journey of exceptional hard work, tenacity, and endurance?
Hanne Desmet:
I moved to the Netherlands in 2018. I trained with the Dutch national team for 5 years and I’m very grateful for my time there. For one year I’ve been training with the Canadian national team. I gradually developed in the high performing athlete I am now, I’m definitely a late bloomer.
Belgium does not have the infrastructure to perform on the highest level in short track. Therefore I’ve always had to live abroad, but I’m very happy with the unique experiences this gave me. Most countries have a system where young talents are chosen to join the national team and start their careers. I had to find my own unique journey to be successful in short track. I am lucky to share this journey with my brother.
Namita Nayyar:
You on 11th of February 2022 took the historic bronze medal in the Women’s 1000 meters short track speed skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, becoming the first Belgian woman to win a medal at a Winter Olympic Games in an individual event. Tell us more about this spectacular achievement of yours?
Hanne Desmet:
To be the first to win an individual medal on the Olympics was an incredible experience. I had a difficult season with a serious concussion in the beginning of the year. At the games I started feeling super confident in my skating. I got 5th, 4th and 3rd at the games and was very proud of all these achievements. Being on the podium at the Olympic Games is an experience like no other. I’m very proud my achievement put short track on the map in Belgium. My skating abilities have been improving ever since.
Full Interview is Continued on Next Page
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