Nils van der Poel ended his skating career after the season.
Now the Olympic hero is investing in a completely new sport.
– The idea is to run the WC, he says.
Nils van der Poel has undoubtedly been one of Sweden’s hottest athletes in recent years. He returned to skating a little more than two years ago, with his sights clearly set on the 2022 Olympics.
The new venture
And there the Swede was really a smash hit. He won double Olympic gold and broke the world record in the 10,000 meters. The 26-year-old was widely praised for his performances, but van der Poel then announced that he will end his skating career after the All-round WC in Hamer.
Since then, the Swede has jumped on several different projects, and last week it was announced that he will compete in swimming. And it’s a sport that Nils van der Poel really took a liking to. Now the 26-year-old announces that he intends to invest in the new sport and is aiming for the WC later this year.
– The idea is to run the WC in September. But I have a slight strain right at the hip that needs to heal properly. The WC is quite far, so then I want to be sure that it is good, he tells SVT Sport.
“Would probably finish”
On the other hand, he is humble in the face of tasks and has not set his sights on any medals. If he starts, the goal is to just get through – which he has good hopes for:
– I think I would finish, says van der Poel about his chances in the swimming WC.
It’s not a short race the WC offers either. It is decided on a 70 kilometer course from Sandhamn all the way to Utö.
Good luck, Nils!
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