Pechstein lauds Games as ‘special’
Speed skating veteran thanks organizers for ensuring a safe and memorable event
German speed skating legend Claudia Pechstein has lavished praise on Beijing 2022 organizers for making her historic appearance at the Games so memorable and safe.
Pechstein became the oldest female Olympian at 49 when she competed in the women’s 3,000m at the National Speed Skating Oval last week.
Although she finished bottom of the standings at her eighth Olympics, the result could not diminish her joy in Beijing, where she says she has been able to relax and enjoy her Games experience thanks in large part to the comprehensive COVID-19 protocols in place.
“I was not too fast, but I smiled because today I got my goal to race in my eighth Olympic Games,” Pechstein said on Feb 5 after a 3,000m race.
“This was important for me. The result of today was not so important, it was just to race and to be here. I am super proud,” added the Berlin native, who has won nine Olympic medals, including five golds — across 3,000m, 5,000m and team pursuit — since her debut at the 1992 Games in France.
Pechstein, who turns 50 two days after the Beijing Games’ Feb 20 closing ceremony, has also tied the record for the most Winter Games appearances —Japan’s men’s ski jumper Noriaki Kasai, who failed to qualify for Beijing 2022, is also an eight-time Olympian.
Pechstein’s appearance at Beijing 2022 has garnered plenty of attention from her fellow athletes, including China’s young skater Ahenaer Adake, who went head-to-head against the German in Pair 1 in the 3,000m event.
“She is an opponent that I admire and respect very much,” said Ahenaer, an athlete from the Kazak ethnic group in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in northwestern China.
“Watching her still compete at the highest level at the Olympics at her
age was really a great inspiration for me,” added Ahenaer, whose matchup against Pechstein produced a personal best (4 min 12.28 sec) for the Chinese athlete.
“I skated the best I could to show her respect. We had a little interaction on the track … and she wished me good luck, which made my day.”
Born in 1999 — after Pechstein had already collected two Olympic golds (5,000m) from three Games — the 22-year-old Ahenaer said the evergreen
German’s exploits on the ice have motivated her to go the extra mile in her own career.
“For sure her story has taught us as young skaters we have a long career ahead of us and a lot of catching up to do to improve,” said Ahenaer.
Having experienced plenty of ups and downs throughout her career, Pechstein’s resilience is perhaps the most impressive aspect of her character. She missed the 2010 Games in Vancouver, Canada, due to a doping ban over blood abnormalities, although she has never tested positive for a banned substance.
Since returning to the ice, Pechstein has been on a mission to prove elite sporting achievements are possible later in life.
After finishing 20th in the 3,000m, Pechstein will race in the women’s mass start event on Feb 19 against a bigger group of rivals, most of whom were not even born when she won her first Olympic gold (5,000m) in 1994.
“I’m proud of myself. I can still compete against the young girls. For me, it’s a big moment when they say they have a lot of respect for my career,” said Pechstein.
“The Chinese girl who raced against me had a good race. I think also the Chinese team all together, they’ve shown how strong they are at home and you can see year by year they grow up.”
Citing Beijing organizers’ efforts to host the Games on schedule despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Pechstein was grateful that the effective pandemic-control protocols at Beijing 2022 helped realize her goal to step on the Olympic track again.
“The Games are a special one here because of the COVID situation all over the world,” she said. “People are wearing protective gear everywhere here but I like it because everything is safe.
“They wished me good luck and showed me love, which was a surprise. I feel safe and I will just celebrate the Games. Xie xie (thank you), Beijing!”