The 1500m race is one of speed skating’s most prestigious events. Longer than a sprint, but not quite long distance, the 3.75-lap event rewards the most well-rounded skaters in the world.
Olympic results 2018: Netherlands’ Kjeld Nuis, Patrick Roest finish 1-2 in speed skating 1500
Republic of Korea’s Kim Min-Seok rounds out the medalists in the men’s 1500.
Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
On Monday, Kjeld Nuis added his name to the list of the sport’s immortals by claiming gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics. His teammate Patrick Roelst finished second, and Korean Kim Min-Seok took home the bronze.
The Netherlands, a world speed skating powerhouse since the 1960s, was a heavy favorite to find the podium thanks to the presence of Koen Verweij and Nuis. Verweij had earned silver in the event at the Sochi Games and could rely on 10 years of experience in the finals. Nuis, the defending world champion in both the 1500m and 1000m events, was riding that momentum into the 2018 Games.
But while the Dutch were able to send their best men, the event may have been missing its presumptive favorite. Russian Denis Yuskov was banned from the games due to a drug suspension — though it wasn’t for doping, but for marijuana use. Yuskov, who set the world record in the event back in December, would have presented a stiff challenge to the field of 35.
America’s best hope for a medal was Joey Mantia, who was 2018’s top qualifier in the U.S. Trials. He finished eighth, 1.85 seconds behind Nuis.
Shani Davis, the two-time gold medalist in the 1000m discipline, finished 19th.
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