Tonight it’s happening: the skate-off between Joy Beune and Jenning de Boo
Almost every time I mention that I do a certain sport, something remarkable happens. Men who have never done the sport themselves seem immediately convinced that they could take me down. It doesn't matter that I've been training for years; there is a kind of self-evident confidence that it will turn out fine.
Apparently, it doesn't just happen to me: it also occurs at the top sports level. Because that's exactly how the match everyone is talking about came about: a battle of the sexes between Joy Beune and Jenning de Boo.
How this match was born
It all started with a big mouth. Jenning told on RTL Tonight how he said to Kjeld Nuis, Joy's boyfriend, “I think I can take your girlfriend on the three kilometers.” Well. Apparently, you shouldn't joke too much with Kjeld, because tonight is the night. Joy and Jenning step onto the ice to test this hypothesis.
The opposition
Men who say they can beat me in sports might still have a small chance. By the way, don't tell them that, because then I would seem exceptionally weak. But in this case, we're talking about Joy Beune. World champion in the 3000 meters. Jenning, on the other hand? His longest distance ever was 1500 meters. And I know he also has two Olympic medals hanging around his neck, but still.
More important than the Olympics
When someone asked Jenning what is more important to him, the Olympic Games or this race, Jenning answered even before the question was finished: “This three kilometers. One hundred percent.” According to him, the Olympic Games don't matter at all. Sarcasm, obviously. Joy happily joined in with the same tone and said that her peak moment also clearly lies with tonight's race.
1500 meters of sadness
But as fun as this match is, I'm still not done whining about the Olympic Games. Because it could have gone differently for Joy Beune. She raced her 1500 meters during the qualification tournament. Only it didn't go exactly as planned: due to issues with the zipper of her skating suit, she almost lost her balance. She managed to stay upright and still skated a strong race, but ultimately came up seventeen hundredths (!) short. And that detail had significant consequences. She just missed the top, and due to a new qualification rule, that meant bye bye 1500 meters at the Olympics. When we were watching at home to see who ultimately took gold in that nearly two kilometers, my mother kept saying the same thing every minute: “Joy should have been here too.” And I effortlessly agree with that.
Where and how to follow the race
For everyone who is not traveling to the Elfstedenhal in Friesland tonight: no worries. You can watch the entire event live on the YouTube channel of De Zilveren Bal. At nine o'clock is the break and twenty-five minutes later the moment arrives. The race between Joy and Jenning will also be streamed via Kjeld Nuis's Instagram live, who has appointed himself as commentator. And that stream seems to be quite hilarious.
Whether Jenning can back up his big talk, we will all find out tonight. The ingredients for a good sports moment are certainly present: a world champion against someone who has never skated the distance. And as charming as Jenning is, tonight I will (of course) just cheer for Joy.
image: instagram | Joybeune
