Related News
Nesbitt digs deep to top rivals
Source: Agencies |
February 20, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
EVEN after Christine Nesbitt had just won Canada's first gold medal in speedskating, she still was not entirely satisfied.
"I know it wasn't pretty," she said. "I've skated a lot better 1,000s this year, so it's hard for me not to be critical."
Nesbitt overcame a half-second deficit on the final lap Thursday to win by two-hundredths of a second over Annette Gerritsen of the Netherlands. That equaled the closest finish in the history of the race, which was American Bonnie Blair's win over Ye Qiaobo of China in 1992.
"When I took the victory lap, I thought, 'This is very weird,'" Nesbitt said.
She was pushing so hard at the end that she lost her balance, sticking out both hands to keep from falling after posting a time of 1 minute, 16.56 seconds.
Nesbitt was already looking ahead to tomorrow's 1,500.
"If I skate the way I did today in my 1,500, it's not going to be good enough to get on the podium," she said. "When I'm not happy with a race, I can use that to skate a better race next time."
Gerritsen took the silver in 1:16.58, and Dutch teammate Laurine van Riessen earned the bronze in 1:16.72.
Nesbitt was 0.56 seconds off the leading pace with one lap to go, then poured everything she had into the last 400 meters.
"I was really nervous," she said. "As soon as the gun went off, I sort of panicked. I had a slip right off. I was almost trying too hard."
Her effort paid off.
Nesbitt celebrated by sharing a kiss with her boyfriend, Dutch speedskater Simon Kuipers, and searched for her parents in the stands.
"I am happy, but I'm kind of back and forth," she said. "I can't believe I won. I can't believe it was so close."
"I know it wasn't pretty," she said. "I've skated a lot better 1,000s this year, so it's hard for me not to be critical."
Nesbitt overcame a half-second deficit on the final lap Thursday to win by two-hundredths of a second over Annette Gerritsen of the Netherlands. That equaled the closest finish in the history of the race, which was American Bonnie Blair's win over Ye Qiaobo of China in 1992.
"When I took the victory lap, I thought, 'This is very weird,'" Nesbitt said.
She was pushing so hard at the end that she lost her balance, sticking out both hands to keep from falling after posting a time of 1 minute, 16.56 seconds.
Nesbitt was already looking ahead to tomorrow's 1,500.
"If I skate the way I did today in my 1,500, it's not going to be good enough to get on the podium," she said. "When I'm not happy with a race, I can use that to skate a better race next time."
Gerritsen took the silver in 1:16.58, and Dutch teammate Laurine van Riessen earned the bronze in 1:16.72.
Nesbitt was 0.56 seconds off the leading pace with one lap to go, then poured everything she had into the last 400 meters.
"I was really nervous," she said. "As soon as the gun went off, I sort of panicked. I had a slip right off. I was almost trying too hard."
Her effort paid off.
Nesbitt celebrated by sharing a kiss with her boyfriend, Dutch speedskater Simon Kuipers, and searched for her parents in the stands.
"I am happy, but I'm kind of back and forth," she said. "I can't believe I won. I can't believe it was so close."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
