Michael a world champion again
Kiwi speed skating sensation Peter Michael is on top of the world again but by the narrowest of margins.
Michael took out a tough 15km elimination race by less than one hundredth of a second, at the world speed skating championships, in China.
The 27-year-old from Palmerston North has a fantastic record in the race, having won it four times before at the world championships.
Michael was unbeaten from 2011 to 2014, before switching to long track ice last year and not defending his title.
In a fast, every changing race in Nanjing on Sunday night, Michael shuffled around in midfield for most of the race.
With 2km left he surged to the front and set the pace. Then with two laps and 400 metres to go Michael appeared in control.
Colombian Alex Cujavante, however, came off the last bend and looked to be about to take Michael, but the irrepressible Kiwi surged again.
Michael then appeared wrong footed in an awkward lunge for the line with the Columbian.
While the judges sorted out the result, Cujavante raised one finger in the air to proclaim victory.
The official announcement, however, handed the victory to Michael, by 0.008sec.
Michael said the win reminded him of one of his favourites quotes from the movie The Fast and the Furious.
‘‘It don’t matter if it’s by an inch or a mile, winning is winning.’’
It was Michael’s seventh senior world title to add to his four junior world titles.
Wellington’s Anthony Nalder was eliminated early in the race and was 33rd from the 56 starters.
Team coach Bill Begg said he was delighted for Michael, who showed all his experience and class.
‘‘It is the one time you don’t mind missing dinner, when you have to be with the skaters for the Wada drug testing, because your man is on the podium.’’
Begg said Michael was a chance of another medal in the 10,000m points elimination race.
The Kiwis had a disappointing result in the 300m time trial won by German Simon Albrecht in 23.869sec.
Kapiti’s Josh Whyte was 26th and Timaru’s Dale Christofferson 38th, from the 52 starters.
Michael is based in Inzell, Germany, where he trains with four other former New Zealand inline skaters on the ice under Kalon Dobbin.
The fact the inline championships were held earlier than in past years allowed Michael to switch back to compete in a one-off and he has been rewarded.
Begg said it was frustrating to lose so many of their top skaters to ice but blamed High Performance Sport New Zealand for the way it handled its performance enhancement grants (PEG).
‘‘It’s the funding policy, when a world champion like Michael gets no funding for inline speed skating and turns to ice long track gets a PEG, it is an insult to our sport.
Begg said Michael missed the 2015 inline world championships and competed in the world long track ice after less than six months ice training, with his best finish a seventh in the 5km.