De Boo and Prins sign new contract with Reggeborgh speed skating team
A short-track speed skater, De Boo (20) was a new addition to the Reggeborgh speed skating this season. ‘It feels hugely familiar. I have a super nice team around me with very good coaches. The teamwork is very good. I couldn't have wished it better,’ said De Boo from Salt Lake City, where the team is preparing for next weekend's World Cup.
The tall sprinter from Groningen immediately made a smashing impression at the World Cup qualifiers this season. At the Dutch Single Distances Speed Skating Championships in late December, he became Dutch champion in both the 500 and 1000 metres event. He also immediately penetrated the international field in his debut year. De Boo became European 500 metres champion and took silver in the 1,000 metres.
Tim Prins
Tim Prins also instantly established himself among the world's best in his debut year. At the World Cup qualifiers, he won the 1,000 metres with a phenomenal race (1’07”96), qualifying directly for the World Cup. At the Dutch Single Distances Speed Skating Championships, Prins won silver in the 1,000 metres; at the European Single Distances Speed Skating Championships, he took bronze. Prins (20), who is also in Salt Lake City with the team, is very happy with the contract extension. ‘It feels very good for me to extend now. It speaks of Reggeborgh's confidence,’ said Prins. ‘I always had an image of what life would be like as a pro skater and that has more than come true at Team Reggeborgh. Working together with teammates and staff is important to me and this teamwork is very good. For me, therefore, this is the only right next step.’
Head coach Gerard van Velde is happy with the contract extension for his talents De Boo and Prins.
‘They’ve made tremendous progress. It’s going faster than expected, but there are still plenty of areas for improvement that we will work on over the coming years. That goes for the whole team. We want to continue the journey we have embarked on together. We want to stay on that course through to the 2026 Olympics.’
- Gerard van Velde