The Magic of Milan: Where Top Sport and Dance Converge
When I look at the images from Milan, I see more than just skaters fighting for gold. In my thirty years as a dancer and expert at Miss Salsa, I have learned that every movement, whether it takes place on a wooden dance floor or on mirror-smooth ice, is a form of art. The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo feel extra special this year. The city of fashion and design forms the perfect backdrop for an athlete who has had to write her own, extremely complex choreography in recent years: Suzanne Schulting.
The news that Suzanne is back training fully with the short track team in the Milano Ice Skating Arena, after previously focusing on the long track, touches me. It is the story of a dancer who, after a serious injury, puts on her pointe shoes again and discovers that the stage is still waiting for her. But the road there was anything but a fluid movement.
The Comeback: Picking up the pieces and starting over
Suzanne Schulting is not just a name in the sports world; she is a phenomenon. After a grueling period with an ankle fracture and surgery, she faced an enormous challenge. In a recent report from the NOS, it became clear that she has now truly set her sights on the relay. That is interesting, because the relay is essentially the group dance of short track. It revolves around timing, blind trust, and a flawless hand-off.
Her return to the short track team on February 11 came at a weighted moment. The team was shaken after a dramatic fall by Xandra Velzeboer in the mixed relay, causing what seemed like a certain medal to go up in smoke. Suzanne stepped onto the ice, not just as a skater, but as the experienced force who 'helps pick up the pieces.' I recognize that so well from the dance world: if a choreography goes wrong during a performance, you need that one experienced dancer who gets the group back in line and restores focus.
The Technique of the Turn: A Technical Analysis
From my expertise, I often look at Schulting's technique with 'dance eyes.' There has been a lot of talk about her form lately. Analysts noted that her knee angles were not optimal and that the aggressiveness in her strokes was not always converted into pure speed. To a layman, that might sound like minor criticism, but for us dancers, this is the core. If your knee angle isn't right, you lose your 'grounding.' Your power drains away instead of using the ice (or the floor) to launch yourself.
In the turns of short track, you see the ultimate 'crossover.' It is a footwork sequence we also know in salsa, but at a speed of fifty kilometers per hour. After her first training sessions in Milan, Suzanne indicated that she especially needs to get used to that extreme top speed again. However, the technique, sitting deep, and entering the turn immediately felt 'natural' again. That is the muscle memory I often talk about; if you have done something right ten thousand times, your body finds its way back, even after a long break.
Drama and Triumph: The Human Side of the Games
The Olympic Games are always an emotional rollercoaster, and Milan 2026 is no exception. We saw Joep Wennemars, Suzanne's partner, miss out on a medal in the 1,000 meters due to a dramatic crossover. That is the harsh side of sports: one wrong assessment and years of work are over. On the other hand, there was the silver medal for Jenning de Boo. The story that he had lost his skates that afternoon — they were apparently still on the bus — is typical of the tension behind the scenes. I have also had dancers who couldn't find their shoes right before a show. The panic is real, but the focus you have to find afterwards to still deliver a top performance, that's what makes you a true pro.
And then there was ice dancing, the sport closest to my heart. The French couple Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry took gold with a free dance so fluid that you forgot they were on blades. Especially the tribute to Vincent van Gogh by the Canadian pair Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (bronze) was an artistic highlight. It shows that sport is not just about numbers and times, but about conveying a feeling. That is exactly what Suzanne Schulting does as well: she skates with an intensity that you feel right in your living room.
What We as Dancers Can Learn from Suzanne
There are a few concrete lessons I take from Suzanne's path to 2026, which I would like to pass on to every dancer in my studio:
- Resilience is a muscle: Coming back after a serious injury requires more than just physical training. It requires the mental strength to accept that you have to start at the basics again.
- Specialization vs. Breadth: Suzanne first chose the long track and then returned to short track. In the dance world, you see this too: sometimes you have to explore another style to look at your primary style with fresh eyes.
- The Power of the Group: Her desire to skate the relay shows that even the greatest individual champions crave the connection with a team. Creating something beautiful together gives a satisfaction that you cannot achieve alone.
Looking to the Future: The Road to the Relay
The coming days will be crucial for Suzanne. The team relay is scheduled for Wednesday, February 18. It will be a moment of truth. Can she use her enormous experience to lift the young guns like Xandra Velzeboer to a higher level? I have every confidence in her. Suzanne has proven she is a fighter, a 'performer' who delivers when the lights go up.
In the meantime, we continue to enjoy the other Dutch athletes in action, such as Merel Conijn in the 5,000 meters and the snowboarders in the half-pipe. But my eyes will be focused primarily on that small track in Milan, where the most spectacular choreography on ice is performed. Because whether you make a triple turn on the dance floor or a decisive overtaking move in the corner of a short track: it's about that one fraction of a second where everything clicks.
At Miss Salsa, we continue to follow these developments closely. Not just because we love sports, but because the passion for movement connects us all. Suzanne, we are watching with you. Make it an unforgettable dance.