|
Favourites delivered
The favourites lived up to expectations, but
the fight for the gold medals wasn't as exciting as many had
expected before the start of the World Sprints. The championship
was one big Canadian party, with two gold medals and one bronze.
Jeremy Wotherspoon and Catriona LeMay-Doan were impressive on both
distances and have to accept they are labelled as favourites for
the Olympics as well.
Holland- and Canada-based pro team TVM had a
grand slam in the men's championship with the first four places.
- We are rivals, but at the same time very good
friends and training partners. We help each other to become better,
world champion Jeremy Wotherspoon says. Towards the Olympics, the
four skaters will prepare individually, and of course, they all
hope they will be even faster.
- I hope I will be able to carry on up-slope. The
results of this world championship are definitely a confidence
builder, Jeremy says.
Last year's world champion Michael Ireland crushed
his chances for the overall gold already at the start of the first
500 meter. He was paired to Joey Cheek, who starts the 'American'
way, with one hand on the ice. Ireland went down into starting
position, but had to wait a long time before Cheek was ready. He
got a false start, and didn't take any risk at the second attempt,
which will probably have cost him half a second.
 Catriona
LeMay-Doan got a big hug from her husband Bart after she finished
the final 1000 meter and secured her second overall World Sprints
gold.
- I'm especially happy with my 1000s this time,
especially the last one against Andrea (Nuyt), because we pushed
each other towards good times. The 500s could have been better,
the 31-year-old, who's also aiming for gold on the Olympic 1000
meter, says.
On Friday, she was happy to learn that she has been
chosen as flag bearer for the Canadian Olympic team at the opening
ceremony of the Games. Contrary to other top athletes, Catriona
has no reservations about participating in the ceremony.
Silver medallist Andrea Nuyt from the Netherlands has
made great progress this season.
- I'm hoping to get some medals at the Olympics, and
I would like to go just as well as I did here. Then we'll wait and
see which colours the medals will have, she said after the medal
ceremony.
The big surprise in Hamar was 30-year-old Anzhelika
Kotyuga from Belarus. She has trained in Calgary during the last
couple of months and has made gigantic progress from being 20th
last year to the bronze medal this time.
- I have learned a lot just looking at Catriona
during the trainings in Calgary, she says.
The reason why she hasn't reached the top before now,
is that she has a daughter and hasn't been able to do full-on
training earlier.
- Also, it's not so easy to try for a career in top
sport in Belarus, she says.
|
