Van der Poel smashes own WR to take 10k speed skating gold
Beijing, Feb 11 (EFE).- Sweden’s Nils van der Poel broke his own world record Friday to win gold in the men’s 10,000 meters speed skating competition at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Van der Poel clocked a 12:30.74, shaving a massive two seconds off his previous record of 12:32.95 that he set last year at the World Championships, to deliver Sweden’s first podium finish in the men’s speed skating 10k in 34 years.
It was also van der Poel’s second gold of these Games, after he stormed to victory in the 5,000 meters this week, when he also broke the Olympic record.
The Netherlands’ Patrick Roest, who finished in second behind van der Poel in the 5k on Sunday, took silver again after clocking 12:44.59, while Italy’s Davide Ghiotto finished in 12:45.98 to take the bronze.
Van der Poel’s victories in Beijing, in addition to his World Championships wins last year, appear to have ended an astounding period of Dutch dominance in the sport – coming into the Games, the Netherlands had won the 10k speed skating gold at five of the last seven Winter Olympics. EFE
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