1,000 metres, Women

Although Canada had high hopes of winning various speed skating medals in Richmond, the women’s 1,000 m was considered to be a “sure thing” for the home team. Australian-born Christine Nesbitt had dominated this distance in the past two seasons much like Davis had in the men’s competition. In the 2009 season, Nesbitt had claimed the World Cup and had won the world title on the ice of the Richmond Olympic Oval. During the Olympic season, she had won all four World Cup races held. Behind Nesbitt, there was no clear number two. The Dutch skaters, Annette Gerritsen and Margot Boer, had both produced some good results, as had Japanese surprise Nao Kodaira, Canada’s Kristina Groves and Monique Angermüller of Germany. Another German, Anni Friesinger had long been a force in the event, but she had suffered of injuries earlier in the season and appeared not to be in top shape.

But the first to go below 1:17 was Laurine van Riessen, who had won a World Cup race in the previous season. Her 1:16.72 would turn out to be hard to beat. The first to do so was Gerritsen, who had recovered from a fall in the 500 m. She had gone off much faster than her team mate, struggling but prevailing, on the final curve on the tough Richmond ice, finishing in 1:16.58. Nesbitt, racing next, started much slower than the leading Dutch couple. But she preserved her strength for the final lap, converting her half-second deficit into a narrow, but sufficient, 0.02-second lead. It was enough to claim, as hoped, the first speed skating gold for the home team.