Dutch-American speed skater seeks good start for US

The long track speed skating portion of the PyeongChang Olympics got underway Saturday with the women’s 3000m final.

And, it was a clean sweep for the Netherlands.

Carlijn Achtereekte won the gold with a time of 3:59.21, Ireen Wust took the bronze finishing 0.08 seconds behind, and Antoinette De Jong took the bronze finishing 0.81 seconds behind Achtereekte.

The lone American in the event was first-time Olympian Carlijn Schoutens, who finished in 22nd place with a time of 4:15.60. She will also compete in the 5000m event on Feb. 16.

Schoutens won both distances at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in last month.

Born in New Jersey to Dutch parents studying abroad, her family returned to the Netherlands when she was seven months old. She competed in the Netherlands until coming to Team USA in 2014.

The 23-year-old medical student’s best finish on the 2017-18 World Cup circuit came in her home country in November with a fourth-place finish in the 3000m at Heerenveen, Netherlands.

The next long track speed skating event will be the men’s 5000m at 2 a.m. Sunday.