Double Dutch on first day of world speed skating championships
Dutch speed skater Sven Kramer picked up his eight world 5,000 kilometre title at the world speed skating championships in Gangneung, South Korea on Thursday.
Kramer beat fellow and arch rival Dutchman Jorrit Bergsma by almost three seconds to take the title in 6.06.82. Peter Michael of New Zealand won bronze.
It is the fourth world championships in a row that Bergsma has come second to Kramer. The two will meet again on Sunday in the 10,000 metres.
Earlier Ireen Wüst won gold in the women’s 3,000 metre event, recapturing the title she last held four years ago.
Wüst’s great rival and defending champion Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic took silver and Antoinette de Jong of the Netherlands was third.
Wüst now has 11 world titles to her name, just one fewer than Sablikova and Anni Friesinger. She has two more opportunities to take gold: in the team pursuit on Friday and the 1,500 metres on Sunday.
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