Team Jumbo-Visma extends contracts De Jong and Huizinga
Team Jumbo-Visma has renegotiated the contracts of Antoinette de Jong and Chris Huizinga and extended them until 2022, so both speed skaters will be part of the team of coach Jac Orie until at least the Winter Olympics of Beijing.
De Jong concluded her mediocre season on a high note by winning a bronze medal at the ISU World Allround Championships in early March. Along with Melissa Wijfje and Ireen Wüst, she managed to seize silver in the ladies’ Team Pursuit at the ISU World Single Distances Championships, after taking gold at the European Championships at Thialf, Heerenveen. Late January she also clinched her second Dutch allround title of her career.
"I am very pleased to stay with this great team for the next two seasons", De Jong said. "In uncertain times like these, it is nice to know where you stand and that is a comforting idea. By signing a two-year deal, I know I can focus on the Winter Olympics of 2022 without having to worry about my contract in the near future. I have a lot of confidence in Jac’s training schedules and I am looking forward to the next two years."
Huizinga was able to set some new personal bests in the 2019-2020 season. The 22-year-old speed skater of Team Jumbo-Visma showed great form in Calgary by setting a time of 3:42.03 (was 3:42.85) at 3,000 meters. A week later, he beat his personal best by two seconds (1:44.60, was 1:46.62) in the men’s 1,500-meter race at the Olympic Oval. At the Dutch allround championships, Huizinga ended up in fourth place.
"I am really happy with my contract extension and the fact that Jac has trust in me", Huizinga said. "I am pleased with our cooperation. It’s a pity that Douwe (de Vries) decided to retire, but with the addition of Marcel (Bosker), we still have a really strong team of allround speed skaters. I am going to do everything I can to improve myself the next two seasons."
Orie
Coach Orie is pleased with the fact that the cooperation with De Jong and Huizinga will be extended. "The last two seasons, Antoinette has become one of the primary contributors to the success of our team. She definitely has the talent and the ability you need to compete for gold at World Championships in the upcoming seasons."
"Chris set some really nice personal bests last season", Orie said. "I am confident he will be able to compete for World Cup seeds in the near future."
