‘Inspirational’ final push
Kiwi speed skater Peter Michael is ‘‘feeling strong’’ for today’s 1500-metre speed skating race after agonisingly missing the medals podium in the men’s 5000m at the Winter Olympic Games.
The Palmerston North racer – who won eight in-line skating world titles before switching to the ice just four years ago – finished fourth, after being in gold medal position after eight of the 11 pairs had completed the time trial format.
In the finals on Sunday night in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Michael finished strongly off a phenomenal pace set by Dutchman Jan Blokhuijsen to record a time of 6.14.07.
‘‘I was trying to pull all the strings I could – it just didn’t happen through the middle section,’’ Michael said.
He passed the lead time of 6.14.15 set by South Korean Seunghoon Lee, but the excitement lasted only a few minutes.
Michael was dislodged from the podium shortly after, with Ted-jan Bloemen of Canada (silver) and
Sverre Lunde Pedersen of Norway (bronze) both recording 6.11.62.
Then another Dutch skater, Sven Kramer, stormed to gold with an Olympic record of 6.09.76, relegating Michael to fourth. It would have been New Zealand’s first Winter Olympics medal since Annelise Coberger’s silver in 1992, and just the country’s second overall. ‘‘I kicked into it a little early, the adrenaline was pumping. I’m disappointed – but good to have the Olympics under way.’’
He planned to immediately turn his attention to the 1500m and said: ‘‘After that performance I’m feeling quite strong for it.’’ Coach Kalon Dobbin said while Michael would have felt a mixture of disappointment and pride at the 5000m result, his performance would be inspirational for the New Zealand pursuit team, who will be chasing a medal later this week.
‘‘We always know Pete can come home strong,’’ he said.
‘‘It sets us up well for the rest of the competition.
‘‘Pursuit always comes down to the last two laps. Seeing Pete pull through like that and having the fastest last lap, that does bring a lot of confidence to the guys. We’re really excited to get back out on the ice.’’
The 28-year-old will also compete in the mass start, as well as in the team pursuit along with Reyon Kay and Shane Dobbin.
Michael said his decision to try ice skating came after watching Dobbin compete at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
Last year, he continued his rise in his new sport with a bronze in the 5000m and a silver in the team pursuit at the World Speed Skating Championships.
He told Stuff last month his priority at the Olympics was the team pursuit.
‘‘I am really aiming for that medal in the TP [team pursuit]. I would really like to be a part of that,’’ he said.
Michael felt he had won everything in sight in the inline world, so jumped ship to complete his dream of competing at the Olympics.