European short track championships: Silver for Hanne and Stijn Desmet in the 1,500 metres

On Saturday, Belgians Hanne and Stijn Desmet finished second in the 1,500 metres at the European short track championships. In the Hala Olivia in Gdansk, brother and sister Desmet had to beat two Dutch training partners: Jens van 't Wout and Suzanne Schulting.

On the line, the difference in the men's event was eighteen thousandths. After skating at the back for a long time, Desmet had taken the lead four laps before the end. The Dutchmen Van 't Wout and Friso Emons, who had led the field, seemed defeated. But on the final straight, Van 't Wout crossed the skate at the right moment.

Hanne Desmet also rode at the back for a long time. Schulting called the shots. Like her brother, she saved the attack for the closing stages. Hanne Desmet made it difficult for Schulting, especially in those last two laps. Here the difference was 25 thousandths. Germany's Anna Seidel finished third.

^{© BELGA PHOTO KLAAS JAN VAN DER WEIJ}