Kramer takes third skating allround title

Sven Kramer, 22, won his third European allround speed skating title in Heerenveen this weekend, taking first place in three of the four distances.


Kramer becomes the third skater to take the title for the third time. Fellow Dutchman Rintje Ritsma achieved the triple twice (1994-1996 and 1998-2000), and Norwegian Hjalmar Andersen took three titles at the beginning of the 1950s.
‘Someone like Sven is only born once in 10 years,’ said Arie Koops, technical director at the Dutch skating association KNSB.
The women’s event was won by Germany’s Claudia Pechstein. Defending champion Paulien van Deutekom was fourth.
The men’s competition involves races of 500m, 1,500m, 5km and 10km, the women’s 500m, 1,500m, 3km and 5km.

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