BEIJING (Reuters) -Dutchman Thomas Krol swept around the National Speed Skating Oval on Friday to win the men’s 1000 metres race at the Beijing Olympics, handing the Netherlands its 11th medal in speed skating at this Winter Games.
Although slow to start, the 29-year-old quickly gained pace and finished as the only skater with a time within one minute and eight seconds, crossing the finish line in 1:07.92.
He waited tensely on the sidelines as he watched the last two races, before raising his fists in victory and covering his face in apparent disbelief when his gold medal was confirmed.
His title makes the Netherlands the first country to win three consecutive gold medals in the distance.
Laurent Dubreuil of Canada claimed silver in 1:08.32 and Haavard Holmefjord Lorentzen of Norway took bronze in 1:08.48.
(Reporting by Sakura Murakami; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
