MILAN, Feb 19 (Reuters) – In a thrilling upset at the Winter Olympics, China’s Ning Zhongyan clinched the men’s 1,500 meters gold, leaving favorite Jordan Stolz and two-time defending champion Kjeld Nuis in his wake. This victory marked a significant milestone for Ning, who admitted he was still coming to terms with his remarkable achievement.
The 26-year-old speed skater, also the gold medalist at the 2024 ISU World Speed Skating Sprint Championships, put on a stellar performance to secure his first Olympic title and China’s inaugural speed skating gold at Milano Cortina. Stolz, the reigning Olympic champion in the 1,000m and 500m events, had to settle for silver, while Nuis, the world record holder in the 1,500m, claimed the bronze, forming a podium of exceptional talent.
Ning, who had previously won bronze in the 1,000m and team pursuit, surpassed formidable competition on Thursday. Reflecting on his nerves before the race, Ning shared, “Last night when I found out which pair I’d be in, I was nervous. I was going up against a twice Olympic champion (Nuis), and I really hoped for the outer lane – but I got the inner.” Knowing that it was Nuis’s final Olympic race added an extra layer of significance to the event. “I told him today it was such an honor to skate together,” Ning remarked.
The Chinese skater expressed his disbelief at defeating Stolz, who had dominated the season. “I never beat Jordan during the whole season. I still can’t believe I won today. After his race, I was shocked – I could not believe I beat him. It felt like finally reaching the top of the mountain,” Ning admitted. Despite the doubts cast upon him, Ning persevered in his pursuit of gold. “I even saw a comment calling me someone who always collects silvers. But I kept fighting for this gold. Everyone skated well, but today I was just a little better.”
Ning’s victory not only secured his place in Olympic history but also saw him break the Olympic record, underscoring the exceptional standard of speed skating at Milano Cortina. Skaters have marveled at the blistering pace of the track at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium, a venue fashioned from a trade fair center, now transformed into the Milano Ice Park.
Commenting on the record-breaking performances, Nuis expressed his disbelief, stating, “Almost every distance gets an Olympic record. Before the Olympics, everyone thought the conditions would be heavy, and then you see these times – it’s ridiculous.” Stolz, at just 21 years old, was equally astonished by the level of competition. Ning attributed the heightened competition to Stolz’s emergence as a prodigious talent. “From Beijing to Milan, a super talent appeared. He shocked all of us. Because of him, we trained even harder, trying to surpass him. That’s a key factor in why everyone improved,” Ning acknowledged.
Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Milan; Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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