Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

jarpio t1_jb6ufp3 wrote

Flyers should draft him

83

notyourvader t1_jb6uofr wrote

>But even in the Netherlands, there are signs of speedskating’s lack of standing in world sport. Thialf is not in Amsterdam or Rotterdam, but Heerenveen, a town of about 30,000 in the pastoral northern province of Friesland, which can feel set apart from the rest of the country. It is the equivalent of TrackTown USA in Eugene, Ore.

Whoever wrote this piece has absolutely zero understanding about the Netherlands. Thialf is in Friesland because Friesland has the biggest skating history in the Netherlands, with the Elfstedentocht, which is a legendary skating event, and a lot of lakes and canals where people skate every winter (if the weather allows for it).

It's also the third fastest track in the world, not some amateur skating rink.

158

carnifex2005 OP t1_jb74j9b wrote

Replying to Robcobes (#2,175,205)

If there were, I'm guessing Eric Heiden probably would have done it. Stolz joined Heiden (who did it twice) and his sister Beth in winning both the junior and senior world championships in the same year.

9

octopus_limbs t1_jb7bi19 wrote

Replying to b_m_hart (#2,175,438)

In think it's a response to the excerpt implying that speed skating is a "minor" sport and it's the main reason it's detached from "major" cities. Thialf being in Heerenveen is not the same as TrackTown being in Eugene. Im the US, no one knows that Tracktown is in Eugene, unless you are a die hard speed skating fan, but in NL, Friesland == speed skating and almost everyone knows this.

34

tafinucane t1_jb7l0jn wrote

Replying to octopus_limbs (#2,175,518)

Tracktown refers to Track and Field, not speed skating.

Track and Field is of relatively low importance in the US, so it makes sense that its (arguably) greatest venue is a smallish college town in the Pacific NW. Kind of a nonsense statement typical of sportswriting filler.

Most non-mainstream sports in the US have their olympic training centers in Colorado, so that's probably the US version of Heerenveen.

10

b_m_hart t1_jb7l7kb wrote

Replying to octopus_limbs (#2,175,518)

TrackTown is a very famous track (for track and field) events, with many national and international top level events taking place there. In the US, anyone that follows track and field (particularly distance running) knows of TrackTown, and where it is.

The exerpt does nothing to imply that it's "minor" in fact exactly the opposite.

17

griebage t1_jb7p3ap wrote

Can we get the poor lad a jacket or something so he doesn’t have to use the flag as a blanket?

13

G3POh t1_jb7vydc wrote

Is he a teen or a man?

0

Pizzashillsmom t1_jb7w7r1 wrote

Replying to KeithGribblesheimer (#2,174,290)

Eric Heiden had retired long ago the first time a single distance world championships was held. Back then only multiple distance world championships existed, sprint (2x500m + 2x1000m) and all around (every distance except 1000m from 500m up to 10000m). Heiden won both of these championships in the same year three times as well as an extra all around championship.

3

TerribleTeaBag t1_jb814cy wrote

Performance enhancing Schnoz. It’s like a carb intake from fast n furious.

4

nanoH2O t1_jb83nfk wrote

Replying to G3POh (#2,176,207)

Both? By definition he is a teen until 20. If you are asking if he has moved to manhood that is subjective based on maturity but some may argue that by law he is a "man" in the US at 18.

7

nanoH2O t1_jb83ofz wrote

The quads on that dude good lord

2

Kingofauui t1_jb86sss wrote

Why does gender matter if we all equal

−7

SiphonTheFern t1_jb886hu wrote

The standing 500m champion (Laurent Dubreil) finished second and says he isn't even disappointed. Says the guy is out of this world and told him that he will tell his grandchildren he skated against him

5

b_m_hart t1_jb8kxhn wrote

Replying to Dry_Needleworker7504 (#2,176,440)

As is pointed out elsewhere, it's basically saying that globally, speed skating isn't as common or popular as other athletic pursuits. He then goes on to compare the speed skating Mecca to the track and field Mecca to illustrate its importance. You seem awfully sensitive about someone stating the obvious about what the vast majority of the world considers a fringe sport, and then trying to explain the importance of the place in terms they'd understand.

−3

GraGal t1_jb9sdc9 wrote

How many illegal drugs did the doctors allow him to take?

1