By Sakura Murakami
BEIJING (Reuters) – Sweden’s Nils van der Poel skated a blistering last lap to snatch the gold medal in the 5000 metres speed skating at the Beijing Olympics on Sunday, ending Dutchman Sven Kramer’s 12-year monopoly of the title.
The Swede, who broke the world record at Salt Lake City two months ago, trailed Dutchman Patrick Roest by over a second throughout the race but stormed to victory in an Olympic record time of six minutes 08.84 seconds.
Roest, who had skated an Olympic record time in his earlier race, took silver in 6.09.31 while Norwegian Hallgeir Engebraaten claimed the bronze in 6.09.88.
Three-times champion Kramer, whose domination of the event spanned three Olympics, placed ninth overall out of 20 skaters.
Beijing will be the 35-year-old’s last Winter Games before he retires from the sport.
(Reporting by Sakura Murakami; Editing by Ken Ferris)
