5,000 metres, Women

After her two gold medals in the 3,000 m and the 1,500 m, Yvonne van Gennip was the top favorite for the inaugural women’s Olympic 5,000 m. Additionally, she was the world record holder, having recorded 7:20.36 at Heerenveen in the previous season. Her main rival was thought to be Andrea Ehrig. Since the 5,000 m had been re-introduced in women’s allround skating in 1983, Ehrig had been the fastest in the distance in at all World Championships since then, and had not lost an international 5,000 m since 1985. Like Van Gennip, Ehrig had also medalled in the 1,500 m (bronze) and 3,000 m (silver).

As in the 3,000 m, Ehrig was the first to set a mark, starting in pair one. She was also the first to break the world record, as she had done in the 3,000 m. Her 7:17.12 was three seconds under the previous best, and was sufficient to keep Gabi Zange-Schönbrunn behind her. Also a former world record holder, Zange narrowly beat her personal best (from the Calgary World Cup in December), posting 7:21.61. This left more than enough room for Van Gennip. Up until the half-way point, she kept equal with Ehrig, before slowly edging away from the East German. Van Gennip’s final time of 7:14.13 was nearly three seconds faster than Ehrig, and six seconds below her own former world record. After receiving her third gold medal, Van Gennip flew home, where a hero’s welcome awaited her. After being met by a huge crowd at the airport, she celebrated her victory in her hometown of Haarlem with some 60,000 fans.