Angel Daleman (NED), multiple World Junior and Youth Olympic champion, has already made her mark in Speed Skating, while also collecting international junior medals in Short Track. After focusing solely on Speed Skating last season, the 19-year-old hopes to combine both disciplines once again in the year ahead.

"I feel like Short Track really helps me, and I've done it my whole life," she says.

Gold medalist Angel Daleman celebrates during the victory ceremony for the 1500m Women at the ISU Speed Skating Junior World Championships 2024 in Hachinohe, Japan. © ISU

Olympic setback sparks new motivation

Despite several top-10 World Cup finishes in her second season at senior level, Daleman narrowly missed qualification for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. 

"The Olympic trials were tough, but in hindsight I try to take out the positives. It was great to start as one of the favorites being only eighteen years old, and I've learned a lot."

After missing out on the Olympic Games, Daleman decided to take part in the Dutch National Short Track Championships.

"I had only trained once on Short Track blades, but it felt really good. The races were fun and I thought: if I can skate like this after just one training, what would I be able to do if I train more?

"I was surprised and I realized that I had secretly missed Short Track a bit after all."

The experience left her wondering how much more she could achieve if she dedicated more time to the discipline again.

Angel Daleman (right) and Diana Laura Vegi (left) compete at the ISU Shotr Track Junior World Cup 2023 in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. © ISU

Why two disciplines make her stronger 

Daleman has combined Speed Skating and Short Track for most of her career and believes the two complement each other.

"Short Track helps me in Speed Skating, for example in cornering and in general with my timing. I noticed that for some reason, I can find the right timing in Short Track easily. I guess it's different for everyone, but for me, it works like that."

While Speed Skating remains her primary focus, she is determined to explore whether she can succeed at the highest level in both disciplines.

"I also feel that I've still got ambition in Short Track," she said.

"My main focus will be Speed Skating, but it's not that I just want to do Short Track on the side. I think I can be good at both disciplines. I'm still young and I want to figure out if I can be competitive in both disciplines." 

Managing a busy race calendar 

One of the biggest challenges will be fitting both disciplines into a single season.

The ISU Speed Skating World Cup and ISU Short Track World Tour calendars often overlap, with events taking place in different parts of the world.

Exactly how Daleman will balance those commitments remains to be seen.

"I haven't looked at the calendar yet. I told Jac (coach Jac Orie, NED) about my ambition and we will have a look at the schedule together." 

Summer success on wheels

This summer, Daleman also competed in Inline Speed Skating. Last May, she won a bronze medal in the 1000m and a silver medal in the 500m at the Dutch National Track Championships.

"I thought, why not? It's been three years since I competed in inline, but I just felt like I wanted to skate the Nationals.

"I've always combined inline and ice, I actually started on inlines back in the day.

"Of course, I had to get used to the wheels again, because it's a bit different, but it felt great."

Whereas Daleman does have big dreams in both Short Track and Speed Skating on the ice, inline is just for fun. 

"It's nice to feel that I still have a pretty decent level, but the National Championships are over now, and that's it. Maybe next year another National Championships, but that's it."