PYEONGCHANG, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Sjinkie Knegt may significantly raise the profile of short track speed skating in Netherlands by delivering medals even gold medals at the upcoming PyeongChang Olympics.
Knegt, second overall among the men at the world championships last year, was among the medal favorites in all men's events at PyeongChang.
The 29-year-old won the bronze medal in the 1000m at the 2014 Sochi Games, which was the Netherlands' first Olympic medal in short track.
"Right now I'm one of the favorites on almost each distance, so that's of course a big difference. But I try to stay relaxed about it and then we will see how it goes in the competitions," he said at GangNeung Olympic Village on Thursday.
"Four gold medals is maybe a little bit too high and I know the competitions are hard. If I'm four times on the podium I should be OK with it. But of course I'm hoping and I'm going for (at least) one gold medal."
One gold medal in PyeongChang may raise the profile of the sport in the Netherlands, where speed skating is dominant.
"We all know that short track is getting bigger and bigger in Holland," he said.
In 2017, Knegt became the first Dutch short track skater to win individual gold over a single distance at the world championships, when he triumphed in the 500m.
"Short track (at PyeongChang Games) is live on TV (back home) every competition day. I don't think we have to make a statement. They have respect and they know it's really important at the Winter Games. They want to show all the people at home," he added.
