Pechstein skates into 8th Olympics just short of 50

Decades into a decorated speedskating career, Claudia Pechstein is still achieving firsts, writes Beth Harris of The Associated Press.

The 49-year-old German will become the oldest woman to compete at a Winter Olympics in Beijing and the second athlete — and only woman — to compete in eight Winter Games.

“Almost everybody say to me, ‘It’s amazing you’re still competing on this level. It’s crazy,’ ” she said. “I like skating.”

Pechstein will tie Japanese ski jumper Noriaki Kasai for participating in the most Winter Games.

She’ll surpass Anne Abernathy, a luger from the U.S. Virgin Islands who was 48 at her fifth Olympics in 2002. Abernathy was injured during practice at the 2006 games and didn’t compete.

Pechstein, a five-time Olympic champion, qualified in the mass start, an event that debuted four years ago in Pyeongchang and features up to 24 skaters racing 16 laps at the same time. It features all-out sprints, jockeying for position and tactics, which a veteran like Pechstein knows plenty about.

The owner of nine Olympic medals turns 50 on Feb. 22, two days after the closing ceremony.

“Every day is harder to get motivated, especially when you feel not so great and the results aren’t coming along,” she said, “but I’m still proud of myself. I can still compete with the world’s younger girls.”

Many of her competitors weren’t born when she won her first Olympic medal, a bronze at the 1992 Albertville Games..

In 2009, Pechstein was banned for two years by the International Skating Union because of irregularities in her blood profile. The suspension was not based on a positive test, but the ISU found her blood values to be indicative of doping use.

Pechstein denied the accusations then, as she does to this day.

“I don’t do anything forbidden,” she said. “I can look in the mirror every morning.”

She lost her appeal and served the ban, with her reputation taking a major hit.

She returned to the ice in 2011, but her court fight is still going on.