Mass Media Overview
Skobrev Gets Bronze "With a Shimmer of Gold"
15.02.2010 08:15
The Moscow Times, Issue 4331
Russia won its first medal at the Vancouver Olympics on Saturday, a bronze for speed skater Ivan Skobrev in the 5,000 meters, a race that was overshadowed by a dominant performance by Dutchman Sven Kramer.
Kramer exorcised his 2006 demons, blasting around the 12-1/2 laps in an Olympic record time of 6:14.6 to banish memories of Turin four years ago where he took silver in the 5,000 and bronze in the team pursuit.
His crushing victory by 2.35 seconds in Vancouver was even more impressive given the ice conditions, which competitors described as sticky.
Skobrev said he had to focus on trying to beat silver medalist Lee Seung-hoon of South Korea, and Italy's Enrico Fabris, who he was paired with.
"Sven, he's a star. He's the best skater ever. I really wanted to beat him, but I don't think it's possible on this rink," Skobrev told reporters.
In an interview with the Gazeta.ru news portal Sunday, Skobrev sounded pleased with his result.
"I'm unbelievably happy. ...This isn't my personal victory, it's our shared victory. Even victory - that's maybe saying too much. It's more like a bronze medal with a shimmer of gold," he said. "It has been ages since our skaters started winning medals regularly. ... We've got a bronze, and that's cool."