BEIJING (Reuters) – The Netherlands’ Sven Kramer skated in his final Olympic 5000m race in Beijing on Sunday, signing off from an occasion he as soon as dominated with three consecutive gold medals to ascertain a popularity as one in every of his nation’s prime sportsmen.
His final long-distance particular person race noticed him place ninth out of 20 skaters as his Olympic document was damaged twice – first by fellow Dutchman Patrick Roest after which by Swede Nils van der Poel nL4N2UH06T, who gained gold in six minutes 08.84 seconds.
“After a 6:17.04, I believed I might have walked a bit sooner by all this (the media interviews), however that did not work out,” Kramer stated after his race with amusing.
“I feel I can take that as a praise. Not for as we speak’s (outcome), however for the previous 15 years. The ethical of the story is simply that this was my final 5000m.”
Kramer has struggled with again issues lately and underwent surgical procedure in 2021. Despite hoping to win a medal in Beijing, the 35-year-old stated he realised it was not lifelike.
“I knew it was going to be my final one. When I went to the rink, I knew this was the final time I’d skate the 5000m,” he added.
Kramer is the one man to win three straight gold medals in a pace skating occasion though his Olympic profession obtained off to a blended began with a silver and a fall at Turin 2006.
After ending second within the 5000m, he skated within the Netherlands workforce pursuit as one of many favourites.
The Dutch have been main Italy by almost a second of their semi-final however Kramer stepped on a block and fell, taking workforce mate Carl Verheijen with him. They obtained a workforce pursuit bronze.
He returned 4 years later in Vancouver, the place his domination of the 5000m started.
After the Olympics, he plans to tackle a administration position with Team Jumbo-Visma, knowledgeable Dutch sports activities workforce.
(Reporting by Sakura Murakami; Editing by Ken Ferris)
