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In a fascinating battle between the American sprint phenomenon Jordan Stolz and the rest of the world, Bart Swings had to settle for a supporting role. After the first day of the World All-round Speed Skating Championships, Swings occupied sixth place. Indra Médard is 21st.
Stolz had taken a huge lead with a dizzying 500 meters and defended his position with gusto through a strong 5,000 meters. The resistance of the established order of all-rounders, led by the Dutch three-time world champion Patrick Roest, was insufficient. The Norwegian trio Sverre Lunde Pedersen, Halgeir Engebraten and Sander Eitrem were also unable to do anything. Italian Davide Ghiotto won the five kilometers in 6:06.28.
In Sunday’s 1,500 meters, Stolz has a lead of 3.42. Stolz is expected to increase the margin on the metric mile, leaving Roest and the others with an impossible task on the ten kilometers. Roest would have to beat Stolz in a direct match to regain the title.
Swings no longer believes in Roest’s chances. However, he viewed Stolz’s 6:14.76 with admiration. He himself achieved 6.15.44, good for eighth place. “A sway after four laps did affect that time. I felt that for the rest of the race,” he commented. The mistake in the 500 meters had no negative consequences.
Swings knows that the second day of an all-round tournament suits him well. After the 1,500 meters he recovers quickly and can start the longest distance relatively fresh. Behind Roest the different ones are small. For example, Swings has to make up 63 hundredths on Pedersen to take third place. But then he has to leave the two other Norwegians behind him in the 1,500 meters.