Established 1961 13 Sports Monday, February 12, 2018 Kramer sets Olympic record of 6:09.76, claims third straight 5,000m gold Canada’s Bloemen wins silver GANGNEUNG: Dutch speed skater Sven Kramer down to two laps in a positive way.” Kramer is the raced into the record books yesterday by winning his second male speed skater to win four Olympic medals third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the men’s in a single event, following in the footsteps of compa- 5,000 metres. Kramer, the first man to win three golds triot Bob de Jong, who got four medals in the men’s in the same speed skating event at the Winter Games, 10,000m. set an Olympic record of six minutes 09.76 seconds, Bloemen, the world record holder in both the finishing ahead of Canada’s Ted-Jan Bloemen with 5,000m and 10,000m, edged out Pedersen for silver Norway’s Sverre Lunde Pedersen claiming bronze. in a dramatic photo finish. Dutch-born Bloemen, who The 31-year-old, who won silver in the 5,000m at is eligible to race for Canada through his father, the Games in Turin in 2006 as well as gold in switched allegiance in 2014 and is only the second Vancouver and Sochi, Canadian to win an started well and settled Olympic medal in the into a steady rhythm as 5,000m, after William he glided to victory in Logan won bronze in the Gangneung. Experience event in 1932 Olympics Experience made the at Lake Placid. difference for Kramer, made the “It wasn’t the perfect who started in the sec- race where you get into ond-last pair of the difference a flow and just fly to the evening and adapted his finish,” he said. “It does- strategy based on how for Kramer n’t always happen and it the other skaters were didn’t happen today but faring. “To be honest I I made the most out of it changed my strategy a and I got everything out bit because I saw every- of myself that I had. body blowing up their legs,” he said, pointing out how “I’m a little bit disappointed that I didn’t have he had noticed his rivals, including Bloemen, slowing more to give today but overall I’m really happy and down in the final laps. really proud to be on the podium.” Kramer and GANGNEUNG: Netherlands’ Sven Kramer (C), Canada’s Ted-Jan Bloemen (L) and Norway’s Sverre Lunde Pedersen cele- “I started a bit slower... but I really could continue. Bloemen will face each other again in the men’s brate winning gold, silver and bronze in the men’s 5,000m speed skating event during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter That brought me a lot in the end. Halfway during the 10,000m on Thursday in what promises to be a fas- Olympic Games at the Gangneung Oval in Gangneung yesterday. — AFP race I was one second slower but I could bring it cinating battle. — Reuters Love on ice: Skating and dating at Olympics US teen nails gold, first Winter Games GANGNEUNG: The next time you have a ‘domes- tic’ with your nearest and dearest spare a thought medallist born for love on ice couple Chris and Alexa Knierim. The US figure skaters competing at the Olympics are partners on the ice, and married off it. this century They say you should never take your work home with you, but for the two-time former US champions it’s unavoidable. A heated exchange PYEONGCHANG: Teen sensation Red Gerard nailed a ten- over the cornflakes needs to be quickly forgotten if sion-packed final jump yesterday to win the slopestyle snow- like Alexa you have to put your total trust in the boarding and become the first Winter Olympic medallist born man you would have happily throttled a short time this century. earlier. He’s the one throwing you up in the air, Aged 17 and 227 days, Gerard handed the US their first spinning, and then catching you - all the while hav- gold of the Pyeongchang Games with his slopestyle win, mak- ing to wear a smile. ing him the youngest US Winter Olympic champion since “Yeh, you can get that kind of situation, with any 1928. Gerard, born on June 29, 2000, also set a record for the relationship whether you’re married or just work youngest gold medallist in any snowboarding event that was partners,” Chris told AFP. Alexa nods in agreement: held previously by Kelly Clark, the 2002 women’s halfpipe “We’re human, so we still run in to that sometimes.” champion at age 18 years and 199 days. “I think it’s easy for us in our situation and GANGNEUNG: USA’s Alexa Scimeca Knierim and USA’s Chris Knierim compete in the figure skating team event The first medallist born in the 2000’s, Gerard is also the maybe its different for other people that it’s an pair skating free skating during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Gangneung Ice Arena in youngest US man to win Winter Olympic gold since 16-year- asset for us,” Chris adds, “we know what works and Gangneung yesterday. — AFP old bobsled driver Billy Fiske piloted a five-man crew to the what doesn’t, talking, you know how to say some- title 90 years ago. “I cannot believe it,” Gerard said. “I’m thing the right way. ion added: “We practically do not have these situa- “Yep sickness, death in the family, we hit it all, shaking right now, maybe from the cold, or the excitement. I “It’s a lot of communication, we’ve learned tions, honestly! Maybe that’s our power.” those things changed us on the ice,” added Alexa. don’t know. But I’m ecstatic. I can’t believe it. throughout the years of being together what But love on and off the ice does not conquer all. “Just to land a run would have been plenty for me and to works and what doesn’t. “We switch off the ‘LIFE OBSTACLES’ The Knierim’s fellow Americans, ice dance pair get on the podium, but to get first is crazy.” The 17-year-old minute you get in the ring-yeh for sure.” Rink With all the athleticism, artistry, and emotional Madison Hubbell and Zach Donohue ended their landed a backside triple cork-a triple-twisting trick with a flip romance in Pyeongchang is by no means confined intelligence required in their sport, the Knierims two-and-a-half year romance but kept the day job — to score 87.16 points on his final run to snatch victory to the Knierims. say that life off the ice is by far the easy part. and remain a couple on ice. from Canadians Max Parrot, who took silver, and Mark Russians Vladimir Morozov and Evgenia “Outside the rink life is easy,” explains Alexa. “To work harder and do all of these things McMorris, who picked up a second bronze after Sochi four Tarasova, the two-time European champions, are “I mean skating’s our job, that’s our income, right, we just realised that to date and be with years ago. rarely out of step whether are on or off. “We had that’s our livelihood, that’s the stress. each other 24-7 with our particular personalities “I’m super-psyched!” said Gerard, who wants to attend film mutual understanding from the very beginning,” “When we go home it’s play time, it’s easy.” It was just explosive,” Donohue said. “We had to ask school for the next two years. “I’d have to guess people are Tarasova said. was not always like that, they say. “Right after we ourselves what was more important, our on-ice pretty surprised,” Gerard said. “I had a lot of fun and all I “I decided to listen to Vladimir in everything, he got married we had a lot of life obstacles,” she partnership or our off-ice relationship? “And we really want to do is just land runs.” is older, but I do not remember him ever raising his said, with Nick agreeing: “We really hit the mar- were both very clearly said the on-ice partnership Gerard was off the pace after the first and second runs, voice at me.” Her red-haired work and life compan- riage hard.” is No. 1,” added his ex. — AFP scoring 43.33 and 46.40, before somehow summoning up an enormous last effort. “After I landed the second jump I was like, ‘Come on, don’t blow it on the last one, let’s just make it through’,” Gerard said. “The wind was really bad and the first two runs it was Norway display pretty tough, but we got a nice little break on the third and strength in I’m just happy I got it to land.” ‘JUST SO HAPPY’ The only younger individual event Winter Olympic cham- skiing depth pion than Gerard was Finnish 16-year-old ski jumper Toni Nieminen in 1992. “It feels incredible. I’m just really happy that I got to land a run and I’m just really excited right now,” PYEONGCHANG: Norway put on a dominant said the Colorado native, who came fourth in the X-Games show as they swept the board in the first men’s last month. Gerard tried the sport as a toddler then took it up cross-country skiing race at the Pyeongchang with a passion aged eight when his family moved closer to Olympics yesterday, and coach Tor Arne Hetland the snow.