World Speed Skating Championships 2013: Day 3 review

Today promised to be a fantastic day, and it didn’t disappoint at all.Up first were the 500m races that had been postponed from yesterday.

Bart Swings of Belgium in action. Swings took gold in the senior men’s category 

There were multiple heats in each age group. The junior women’s had very predictable heats, with 2 Colombians, 1 Venezuelan and 1 Chinese Taipei girl making the final. Junior men’s heats were also progressing predictably, until one Colombian was disqualified in the semi-finals. The final four was made up of one each from Colombia, Belgium, Germany and France.

Senior women’s races were a little more exciting. The 2 Colombians qualified easily, whereas American Erin Jackson (junior world champion the previous year) had a tough heat and barely managed to win her semi-final. Senior men’s qualifiers were a lot more interesting, with the world record being broken by Andres Felipe Munoz (Colombia), even in the quarters. Munoz had already established the rink time trial record on Day1.

Then it was time for the finals. Colombia won the first two places in the junior ladies easily, with Korea coming in third. The junior men’s 500m crown was captured by Colombia, with Belgium and Germany coming in second and third respectively. Senior women’s was pretty much the same story with Colombia winning gold and silver and Erin Jackson from USA winning the bronze.

Finally it was time for the much awaited senior men’s 500m sprint final. Pedro Casuil and Munoz (both Colombia) started first but Munoz fell to fourth place. Pedro maintained his lead but seemed to hesitate for some reason. In the last turn, the Italian went to Pedro’s left, causing Pedro to fall. And then Munoz showed his mettle. The moment he saw Pedro fall, he accelerated, moved from third into first place in the last half lap, and won himself his second gold medal of the championships!

The next event was the relay races. The heats were exciting, as all relays are, with 8 countries in each heat. Junior women’s was won by Colombia, with Korea in second and Belgium winning the bronze. The junior men’s witnessed a major upset with Venezuela pipping Colombia to win gold in a photo finish, and Korea coming in third.

The senior Colombian women avenged the junior men’s defeat by winning gold and Chinese Taipei had to settle for silver, with China finishing third.

Then came one of the most impressive races I have ever seen – the senior men’s relay – with the amazing Bart Swings of Belgium anchoring his team. The race was a tug of war which continued until the penultimate lap. Belgium was in fourth place when the last lap bell sounded and Bart Swings flew past everyone else to take gold. I have never seen anyone skate the way Swings did in those 200 metres. It was sensational.

After a short break, it was time for the 1000m races. The heats in the first three age groups were straight forward, but the senior men’s semi-finals were unbelievable. The first heat went along as expected, with Bart Swings winning comfortably. The second heat was like a mini final in itself. Andres Munoz, Pedro Causil, Wei Lin Lo and Fernandez Ewen – all in one race. Munoz took off, sprinted the first two laps, taking his teammate Pedro with him, in an attempt to keep the pace high and tire everyone else. He finally tired and finished the race last, but had achieved the goal of ensuring his teammate Pedro was in the finals.

The finals were a highly anticipated event. Colombia dominated the junior women’s category as expected, winning gold and silver, with Korea taking bronze. Junior men’s was won by Venezuela, as New Zealand and Argentina took silver and bronze.

Senior women’s was won by Paola of Colombia, with Uting Huang of Chinese Taipei coming in a close second and Francesca Lollabrigida of Italy coming in third. Then it was time for the senior men’s finals. Bart Swings led the pack from the start and finished the race first, in an unbelievable illustration of racing tactics. In spite of Pedro tailing him closely in the first four laps, it was France which took home the silver and bronze. The Belgian crowd went wild – their hero had won gold and the roar was deafening.

Today, the last day of rink events, was a day of upsets and great victories. It was truly a day that one expected in a World Championship.