5,000 metres, Men

The fastest 5,000 m time of the season had been by long distance specialist Reidar Liaklev . But at the Norwegian Championships, he had been beaten by eventual champion Odd Lundberg. But the Norwegians weren’t the only favorites, with Sweden fielding World Record holder Åke Seyffarth and Göthe Hedlund, and Finland entering 1947 World Champion Lassi Parkkinen, who also won 5,000 at that occasion.

Weather conditions were far less favorable than a day earlier. Throughout the 20-pair competition the wind changed regularly, accompanied varyingly by snow and sun. The race, originally set for a 1030 start was rescheduled to 0845, a change that was not announced to all spectators. The first surprise of the race was the fall of 1936 1,500 m champion Charles Mathiesen, who was out of shape and retired. After Dutchmen Jan Langedijk and Kees Broekman both went below 8.40, Hedlund went off for a very fast start. He slowed considerably during the last laps, but lowered the top mark to 8.34,8.

The most interesting pair of the competition was that between Lundberg and Harry Jansson (Sweden). Like Hedlund, Jansson went off quick, with Lundberg trailing for most of the race. At three laps, the Norwegian took command and also built up a lead on Hedlund, finishing after 8.32,7. Jansson, who had been slower than Hedlund for the entire race came very close to beating his compatriot, finished quickly and missed out by only one tenth of a second. In the 14th pair, Seyffarth was hoped to join his compatriots in the top-3, but he failed. This was partially due to a brush with a photographer, who had stepped onto the ice. In the next heat, Reidar Liaklev skated a very steady race. Lapping his Swiss opponent Heinz Hugelshofer, he improved on Lundberg’s mark with 8.29,4. The only contender left was Lassi Parkkinen, but his chances were ruined by heavy snowfall start right after Liaklev’s pair. Hedlund’s third place gave Sweden its first ever Olympic medal in speed skating.