The final test for speed skaters before the Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina, at the last stage of this season's World Cup, was marked by the historic result of Norwegian Sander Eitrem, who broke the world record in the 5.000-meter race and became the first in history to cross the course in less than 6 minutes.
Eitrem set a time of 5:58,52 minutes, almost two seconds less than the previous record, which means he skated at an average speed of more than 50 kilometers per hour!
The 5.000-meter race was truly historic, just ten minutes before the new record, the previous world record holder, Frenchman Timothy Lubino, set a new course record, 6:03,65 minutes, a second faster than the previous one, and it was believed that the rest of the competition was a pure formality.
However, the 23-year-old Norwegian was performing in the last pair, with the even younger and extremely talented Czech Metodi Jilek, and the two of them "chased" each other until the last round, when Jilek faltered, and the entire hall realized that a sensation was on the horizon.
Eitrem's coach cried at the edge of the track as his son threw his expensive glasses into the crowd, not believing what was written on the scoreboard. The glasses were not returned, but he was later given a gold ring with the logo of the skating union and a dedication for the record.
The other disciplines were much more exciting than the recent European Championships, as the world's best used this opportunity for a final test before the Olympics. Dutchwoman Femke Kok was first in the 500 meters, convincingly ahead of Juta Lierdam, but revenge came in the 1.000 meters, where Lierdam was first and Kok third.
American Jordan Stolz won the 1.000 and 1.500 meters and was second in the 500 meters, which is also a clear announcement of what he planned to achieve in Milan in early February.
Norwegian Ragne Wiklund was convincing in the 3.000 meters, and Dutchwoman Joy Boone triumphed in the 1.500 meters, her favorite discipline in which she unfortunately will not compete at the Olympics, because for unknown reasons she was slower than the three Dutch competitors only in the qualifying race.
Bonus video:
