Annita van Doorn (26) examined the fabric of her jacket, glanced at the eagle’s wing that adorned its sleeve, and gave her extra-high sport shoes a last once-over. Not bad, was her verdict on the official Dutch Olympic outfit for the Winter Games of 2010. While the short track skater did have a few remarks, at least she would be looking sharp next month in Vancouver. And the right to wear the Olympic uniform was far more important than what it looked like, Van Doorn said. She is, at long last, an Olympic athlete, a status she has worked hard to attain.

Van Doorn was one of the 29 Dutch Olympic athletes officially presented to delegation head, Henk Gemser, at the national sports centre in Papendal, a town close to Arnhem, last Saturday. Their Olympic uniform was presented, as usual, on the same occasion. These will identify wearers as Dutch athletes at the international sporting event in Vancouver and are, of course, also required by the team’s sponsor.

Dutch Olympic Mission is 29 strong The Dutch Olympic team consists of 29 athletes. Snowboarders Dolf van Wal and Dimi Jong might still qualify and a second qualifying event remains to be held in long track skating. Bobsleighing Four person bobsleigh (men) Pilot: Edwin van Calker Crew Sybren Jansma, Arnold van Calker, Timothy Beck and Arno Klaassen. Two person bobsleigh (women) Pilot: Esmé Kamphuis Crew: Tine Veenstra and Urta Rozenstruik Long track skating Men: Jan Bos (1,000 metres), Stefan Groothuis (1,000 and 1,500), Bob de Jong (5,000 and 10,000), Arjan van der Kieft (10,000), Sven Kramer (1,500, 5,000 and 10,000), Simon Kuipers (1,000 and 1,500), Jan Smeekens (500), Mark Tuitert (1,000 and 1,500). Women: Margot Boer (500, 1,000 and 1,500), Annette Gerritsen (500, 1,000 and 1,500), Laurine van Riessen (500, 1,000 and 1,500), Diane Valkenburg (3,000), Elma de Vries (5,000), Ireen Wüst (1,500 and 3,000) Short track skating Annita van Doorn, Sjinkie Knegt (both 1,000). Women’s team 3,000 meter pursuit: Van Doorn, Sanne van Kerkhof, Liesbeth Mau Asam, Jorien ter Mors and Maaike Vos. Snowboarding Nicolien Sauerbreij (parallel giant slalom)

Still, the athletes had some say in choosing their dress. Van Doorn was on the clothing committee, which also included speed skater Ireen Wüst, snowboarder Nicolien Sauerbreij and skating coach Wopke de Veft.

The presentation of the Olympic mission has always been a somewhat casual event charged with a dash of real emotion. It marks the start of the run-up to the most important tournament for Dutch speed skaters, bobsleighers, and snowboarders.

Van Doorn is now one of them. In Papendal last Saturday she felt her first tingle of pre-Olympic euphoria, though she hasn’t yet finished preparing for the actual event. She still hopes to qualify for the 500 meter race at the European Championships in Dresden. It’s her strongest event but she failed to qualify at the last opportunity when one of her skates broke. Luckily, she has already earned her starting places in the 1,000 and 3,000 meter races.

Van Doorn is relatively unknown in the Netherlands. While speed skating is definitely a national sport, short track has always enjoyed less of the limelight. Van Doorn was given ample opportunity to change this when she was dragged in front of several cameras in Papendal last Saturday.

How many medals?

The short track skater’s ambition is to return from Vancouver with at least one medal. She thinks her chances for one are best on the team pursuit, an event introduced at the last Winter Games. “Normally China and South Korea are too strong, but we are right behind them. An upset is not impossible,” she said. She recalled the unexpected success of the Dutch women’s water polo team, which won gold in Beijing two years ago. “It gave me goose bumps. And it inspired me to never stop believing in a successful finish,” Van Doorn said.

Team leader Gemser however, might not be counting on a team pursuit medal. On Saturday he was reluctant to commit to a number, but he has always been keen to manage expectations. He once let slip that he did not expect the record number of medals, the eleven attained in Nagano in 1998, to be broken in Vancouver. Erica Terpstra, chairman of the Dutch Olympic Committee was also wary to play guessing games. “That would be tempting the gods,” she said.

No team flag bearer has yet been selected. Gemser has said he will not bestow this honour on an athlete who has to compete on the first or second day, since he will not allow them to participate in the opening ceremony. That means speed skater Sven Kramer is out: he is competing in the 5,000 meter race on the first day. If his colleague Marianne Timmer qualifies for the Winter Olympics later this month, she would seem to be the obvious choice.