Programs
Competitions
Venues
Access
A la carte
Photo Album
From the Olympics Toward Tomorrow
 |
Romme claims 2nd Olympic gold with 10,000m win
 Dutch speed skater Gianni Romme |
15:00- Start
Dutch speed skater Gianni Romme shattered another world record Tuesday and captured his second gold medal of the Nagano Olympics while leading a Dutch sweep of the medals podium in the men's 10,000 meters.
Romme set the world record for a second time at the Nagano Games, completing the sport's longest distance with a time of 13 minutes, 15.33 seconds at the M-Wave indoor ice arena in Nagano.
The swimming instructor, who turned 25 last Thursday, eclipsed the previous world and Olympic mark of 13:30.55, which was set by Norway's Johann Olav Koss at the 1994 Lillehammer Games.
Bob De Jong won the silver in 13:25.76 and 5,000-meter silver medalist Rintje Ritsma took the bronze in 13:28.19.
Romme skated at a blistering pace from the outset of his race as he passed the 2,000-meter mark 7.14 seconds under Koss' old mark and widen the gap to more than 14 seconds midway through the race.
His then held his pace for the rest of the race and crossed the finish line to thunderous applause from a crowd that included horn-blowing Dutch fans clad in their traditional orange.
It was the second Olympic victory for Romme following his 5,000-meter triumph on the opening day of the Nagano Olympic speed skating competition. He set the world record of 6:22.20 in that race.
Romme brought the Netherlands' gold medal count in Nagano Olympic speed skating to four. Besides his double long distance crown, Ids Postma won the men's 1,000 meters while Marianne Timmer claimed the women's 1,500-meter title.
Japan's Keiji Shirahata, the only Japanese entry in the 10,000 meters, finished in 14th in 13:57.45. (Kyodo News)
Results of speed skating men's 10,000 meters Tuesday in the 18th Olympic Winter Games at M-Wave indoor oval, Nagano:
1. Gianni Romme, Netherlands 13 minutes, 15.33 seconds (World record)
2. Bob de Jong, Netherlands 13:25.76
3. Rintje Ritsma, Netherlands 13:28.19
4. Bart Veldkamp, Belgium 13:29.69
5. Kjell Storelid, Norway 13:35.95
6. Frank Dittrich, Germany 13:36.58
7. Lasse Saetre, Norway 13:42.94
8. KC Boutiette, U.S. 13:44.03
9. Roberto Sighel, Italy 13:46.85
10. Alexander Baumgaertel, Germany 13:48.44
-----
14. Keiji Shirahata, Japan 13:57.45
No part of the article, photographs, or illustrations presented here may be printed or used without permission.
Copyright 1998 The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun