By Pearl Josephine Nazare
MILAN, Feb 21 (Reuters) – Jorrit Bergsma turned back the clock to claim men’s mass start gold at the Winter Games on Saturday, securing the second Olympic title of his career at the age of 40, while Marijke Groenewoud triumphed in the women’s race to seal a Dutch double.
As Bergsma approached the final straight, he allowed himself a smile and celebrated before crossing the line.
With the two mass start races bringing the speed skating programme to a close, the Netherlands finished Milano Cortina with five gold medals in the sport, the most of any nation at these Games.
Dane Viktor Hald Thorup claimed silver in the men’s race for his country’s second ever Winter Olympics medal, while Italy’s Andrea Giovannini delighted home fans with bronze.
In the women’s event, Canada’s Ivanie Blondin secured silver, matching her Beijing 2022 result, and American Mia Manganello took bronze.
DARING ATTACK
Bergsma and Thorup stunned the field with a daring attack on the third lap of the 16-lap men’s race, but Bergsma launched another blistering move with a couple of laps to go, decisively shaking off Thorup.
Bergsma’s win added to an exceptional Olympic resume that includes 10,000m gold at Sochi 2014, silver at Pyeongchang 2018, bronzes in the 5,000m at Sochi and 10,000m at Milano Cortina.
“That was crazy, mind-blowing,” Bergsma said. “I was expecting a really hard final, but nobody wanted to do the first attack. I did it. I had a gap together with Viktor and that was it.
“We had a gap in no time, and then I knew, ‘okay, I have a big, big chance right now’. I just wanted to keep the gap with the peloton and keep the speed in it a bit. I had to keep my cool and finish it.”
Bart Swings’ title defence ended in disappointment. The 35-year-old Belgian, who captured his country’s first Winter Olympic gold in 74 years at Beijing 2022, finished ninth.
American Jordan Stolz, the Olympic 500m and 1,000m champion, ended fourth.
‘DREAM COME TRUE’ FOR GROENEWOUD
With Dutch great Irene Schouten now retired, the women’s mass start began without its defending champion but Groenewoud timed her final-lap surge to perfection to claim her first Olympic gold.
“Maybe it (Bergsma’s race) brought some more pressure on my shoulders, but there was also a lot of energy I got out of it. It’s nice to see your teammate win. Then you have to do it yourself, too,” Groenewoud said.
“I stood up and thought, ‘this mass start is my mass start and I did it’. It’s a dream come true. As a child I dreamed of Olympic gold and now I got it.”
The 27-year-old left the arena with more than one piece of hardware after her boyfriend proposed moments after her victory.
“I got a gold medal and a silver ring,” Groenewoud said. “Really happy with it. I didn’t expect it. It’s a perfect day.”
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Milan; Editing by Alison Williams and Ed Osmond)
