1,500 metres, Men

Since 2013, Russian Denis Yuskov had dominated the 1,500 m at World Championships. Winning titles in 2013, 2015 and 2016, and being runner-up in 2017, he was the red hot favorite for the gold in PyeongChang. His performances earlier in the season had only confirmed this status, winning all four World Cups he contested. But as with many Russians, Yuskov was barred from competing at the 2018 Olympics due to his doping history. As a junior, he had been caught for marijuana usage in 2007, and had served a four-month ban. This left the role of favorite to Dutchman Kjeld Nuis. The World Champion of 2017 had not had a great season however, and had initially not even qualified for the Dutch World Cup team, although he later convincingly won the Dutch Olympic Trials. A host of others were considered for the medals, including 2014 runner-up Koen Verweij, Sverre Lunde Pedersen, Vincent de Haître and Joey Mantia.

A surprise qualifier at the Dutch Olympic Trials, Patrick Roest raced in the early pairs, setting a convincing 1:44.86. Nuis, however, comfortably bettered that mark 10 pairs later, recording 1:44.01 before stopping to wait for the final pairs. Kim Min-Seok and Haralds Silovs both attacked Roest’s mark, but fell short in the last lap. Kim, the defending Youth Olympic champion in the event and 5th at the 2017 Worlds, came closest with 1:44.93. The remaining favorites then all disappointed as Verweij (11th), Pedersen (9th), de Haître (21st) and Mantia (8th) never challenged for the medals.