Olympics 2018: Beckert and Geisreiter without chance – Kramer dupes competition

Patrick Beckert, the German speed skating hopeful Patrick Beckert, has been shown his limits during a power demonstration of the Dutch top favourite Sven Kramer and has clearly passed the much longed-for medal.

In the 5000 m race of the Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, Beckert, who started with great ambitions, had to settle for the disappointing tenth place in 6:17.91 minutes on Sunday. Even more: The distance to Kramer, who won his third gold medal at this distance in an Olympic record of 6:09.76 minutes, was enormous.

Second place went to world record holder Ted-Jan Bloemen (Canada/6:11.61), who had the better end in the photofinish against the third placed Sverre Lunde Pedersen (Norway). Born in the Netherlands, Bloemen had fought his way past Pedersen in a high-class duel with a point on the skid – two thousandths of a second made the difference between silver and bronze. Moritz Geisreiter (Inzell) as the second German starter finished the race in 6:18.34 minutes on twelfth place behind Beckert.

“The time is not bad, I’m far from saying that this was a bad run”, Beckert said at Eurosport:”I was sick and tired at the World Cup in Erfurt. I’ve noticed that. It didn’t work that way, there was a little lack of freshness and dynamism. From round four, five, it became difficult to keep up the pace. It wasn’t supposed to be.”

The man from Erfurt had drawn the most ungrateful lot during the draw. In the penultimate pairing he had to go on the ice in a direct duel with Kramer. After a brisk start, however,”King Sven” increasingly moved away. Beckert’s constant 30 laps were not enough. When the dream of winning a medal was long since unattainable, Beckert had to torture his way to the finish line with painful thighs.

“I now have three days to regenerate, and then the cards are shuffled over 10,000 metres. I am quite optimistic,”said Beckert.

Geisreiter was no better off either. When Kramer was already able to celebrate his victory, the Bavarian fought his way over the ice in the last run. Geisreiter had aimed for a result among the top eight, but failed in his project.

The big stage was meanwhile owned by superstar Kramer. After his successes in Vancouver and Sochi, the 31-year-old was crowned the first male speed skater to win three Olympic victories over the same distance in front of the eyes of Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima. He is also the first male athlete in his sport to collect eight Olympic medals.

Beckert, who finished last year’s World Cup over 10,000 m on the same track last year, offers himself another chance to win a medal on the “long edge” on Thursday:”I’m only satisfied when I’ve fulfilled my dream,”Beckert said in the run-up to the games. For the frustration prophylaxis he still has a race.