Gold for Sven Kramer in Olympic 5000m

Dutch speed skater Sven Kramer took the gold medal in the Winter Olympics 5,000m event, his 12th international title in a row.


Kramer, who was one of the favourites for the distance, completed the course in 6.14,60, a new Olympic record.
The silver medal went to Korea’s Seung-Hoon Lee (6.16,95), while bronze was won by the Russian Ivan Skobrev (6.18,05).
Kramer had to wait for six more competitors to complete the distance before he could claim victory.
As soon as it became clear Kramer had won, he climbed over the tribune to his parents and hugged them both. Next he embraced girlfriend Naomi van As, who plays hockey for the Netherlands and is part of the team which holds the world and Olympic title.
‘I was dying in the end, so I think it was one of my hardest, and even my best race ever,’ Kramer told the BBC.
For the BBC report on the race, click here
For Time Magazine on the Dutch love of speed skating, click here
For photos and video, click here

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