3,000 metres, Women

If anybody doubted that Gunda Niemann would win the Olympic 3,000 m, it was Niemann herself, in all her modesty. But with three World Cup victories and a win in the European Championships, there was no reason for modesty. Her times in Heerenveen and Collalbo had been very fast (4:17), although not close to her world record of 4:10. Past results for Niemann had also been excellent, winning the distance at the past four European Championships and the 1991 World Championships, where she also captured the overall titles. Behind Niemann, her teammate and friend Heike Warnicke-Schalling seemed a secure second, while Austria’s Emese Hunyady appeared a safe bronze medallist. They had in fact finished first, second and third in the past three international encounters.

Hunyady and Warnicke skated in the opening pair, but it was never a real fight. Warnicke pulled away from the Austrian in the second lap, finishing in 4:22.88, nearly two seconds ahead of Hunyady. Both times were faster than Niemann’s winning time at the December World Cup in Albertville, so none of the other skaters approached them until Niemann herself took the ice. In her usual dominance, she was half a second faster than Warnicke from the start, and only increased that lead, eventually winning in 4:19.90. Hunyady’s bronze medal was Austria’s first speed skating medal by a woman.