Dutch forecast to win six skating gold at the Beijing Winter Olympics

The Netherlands is set for a disappointing Winter Olympics in Beijing, if the latest forecasts by sport data bureau Gracenote come true.

The bureau is now forecasting the Dutch speed skaters will win six gold medals, rather than the 10 it predicted earlier. On top of that, the agency foresees 11 silver and three bronze for the Dutch, who usually dominate the long-track events.

At the last Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, the Dutch were fifth in the medal table with eight gold, six silver and six bronze medals, but are now being tipped by Gracenote to come home in eighth place.

Thomas Krol (speed skating) and Suzanne Schulting (short track), are the ones to watch, Gracenote says. ‘With five World Cup event wins so far this season, Suzanne Schulting is currently the best female short track speed skater in the world,’ Gracenote said.

Medals table

The Winter Olympics take place from February 4 to February 20 and include 109 events in seven different sports.

The Dutch squad so far consists of 18 speed skaters, eight short track skaters and one ice dance specialist, Lindsay van Zundert, but qualification competitions are still ongoing.

Gracenote puts Norway at the top of the medals table, followed by Russia, Germany and the US.