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Isabelle van Elst

Belgium

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSBEL20403199801
NOCBelgium
Born04 Mar 1998 in  Bennebroek
GenderWomen
OccupationAthlete, Student
LanguagesDutch, English
ResidenceAmsterdam, NED
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 38.03 27 Dec 2020 Heerenveen  
    1000m 1:15.58 16 Mar 2019 Calgary  
    1500m 1:56.96 18 Feb 2024 Calgary  
    3000m 4:21.11 28 Feb 2017 Heerenveen  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Name of coachBjarne Rykkje; Jonas Bekken  
Social Media
Social Media
instagram.com/isabellevanelst  
General Interest
General Interest
Other informationNEW TRAINING GROUP
After spending two seasons competing for Team Worldstream in the Netherlands, in 2022 she began training and competing with the Norwegian national speed skating team. "Belgium has a national team but no ice rink. Everyone basically trains with another team, often in the Netherlands. I really do feel like part of the team [at Skoytelandslaget], even though I skate for another country. It really feels like a family; it's very different from the Netherlands. There is a more individual approach, also because I am one of the few skaters in the Norwegian all-round team who skates short distances. When we go cycling, I ride less hours than the others, so that I can also spend time on strength training or specific sprint training." (yvgtf.nl, 16 Sep 2023; schaatsen.nl, 17 Sep 2023; folia.nl, 28 Feb 2023)

STUDIES
She has studied art history at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. She plans to pursue a master's degree when she retires from competitive sport. "Considering the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, it would be difficult for me to combine sport and studies because of attendance requirements and lab work. So, I think I should save a master's for after my skating career." (Instagram profile, 05 Oct 2023; folia.nl, 28 Feb 2023)

DUAL CITIZENSHIP
She holds both Dutch and Belgian nationality. She began representing Belgium in the 2022/23 season. "I've always had dual nationality because my mother is from Belgium." (folia.nl, 28 Feb 2023; belganewsagency.eu, 19 Feb 2023; nos.nl, 06 Jan 2023)
 
InjuriesShe was unable to train for six weeks and missed several competitions at the start of 2022/23 season due to a respiratory infection. (folia.nl, 28 Feb 2023)  
AmbitionsTo compete at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. (yvgtf.nl, 16 Sep 2023)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?She began skating as a child at Winterkoninkje Ice Rink in Haarlem, Netherlands.  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2023/2024 European Single Distances Championships 1500m6  
    2022/2023 European Sprint Championships Overall8  
    2023/2024 European Single Distances Championships 1000m8  
    2023/2024 European Single Distances Championships 500m12  
    2022/2023 World Single Distances Championships 1000m14  
    2023/2024 World Sprint Championships Overall17  
    2023/2024 World Single Distances Championships 1500m17  
    2023/2024 World Single Distances Championships 1000m20  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 1500m19  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 500m23  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 1000m27  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification 500m27  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification 1000m26  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 500m40  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 500m42  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 500m42  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 1000m45