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Mixed feelings among sister and brother Hanne and Stijn Desmet after the first day of the World Short Track Championships in Rotterdam. While Hanne zoomed authoritatively through the heats on the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters, Stijn had a difficult Friday.
“When it comes this easy, it’s a good feeling.” Hanne Desmet easily avoided every cliff in the preliminary rounds and seems ready to win her first world short track title this weekend. “But I have mixed feelings, because things really didn’t go well for Stijn. I really hate to see that.” Brother Stijn, who has won a World Cup medal each time in the past two years, had a disastrous start to his tournament. “There was something wrong with the curvature of my skate during my first 1,500 meter race,” Stijn explained. “As a result, my legs were completely full. Although I also made some rookie mistakes.” The Belgian spearhead among the men was referred to the repechages in the 1,500 and 500 meters. This weekend they will be on top of the already packed program. “If I want to compete for the medals, I will have to drop one distance,” he realized. With a new iron, Stijn qualified for the quarter-finals in the 1,000 meters and led the Belgian mixed relay and men’s relay to the semi-finals. “My self-confidence has taken a hit, but I hope to grow in the final weekend.”
(md)