Isabelle van Elst

Name of coach

Bjarne Rykkje; Jonas Bekken

instagram.com/isabellevanelst

Other information	NEW 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)
Injuries	She 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)
Ambitions	To compete at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. (yvgtf.nl, 16 Sep 2023)

When and where did you begin this sport?

She began skating as a child at Winterkoninkje Ice Rink in Haarlem, Netherlands.