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Kramer among greatest of all time, says Rogge
Source: Agencies |
February 26, 2010, Friday
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SVEN Kramer is among the greatest speed skaters of all time despite a huge blunder that saw him disqualified in the 10,000 meters, International Olympic Committee chief Jacques Rogge said on Wednesday.
Dutchman Kramer, the overwhelming favorite to win his second gold medal at the Vancouver Olympics was disqualified after his coach sent him into the wrong lane eight laps from the finish on Tuesday while leading by a five-second margin.
"I wish it had not happened but it is a reality. Games are about triumph and defeat. I prefer it never to happen but it adds to the mystique of the Games. (If I were the team leader) the first thing I would do is I would say nothing," Rogge, who took part in three Olympics, said. "I would let the rage out, recover, compose and then I would say he is the best skater of his generation.
"He is equal to Eric Heiden, Kees Verkerk, Johann Koss, Ard Schenk," Rogge told reporters while sitting at the stands of the Richmond Oval.
American Heiden swept the gold medals in all individual events at the 1980 Lake Placid Games, while Dutchmen Verkerk and Schenk won gold medals at the 1968 Grenoble and 1972 Sapporo Olympics.
Norwegian Koss grabbed three gold medals all in world record time at the 1994 Lillehammer Games.
"He is of that calibre. I suffer with him. He is still the number one and should go out and try to win a gold in the team pursuit," Rogge said. "I know it is painful," he said, adding the mistake was unique for the Olympics. "There is nothing that comes to my mind spontaneously at the Games."
Four years ago American Lindsey Jacobellis denied herself the gold medal in the snowboard cross when she decided to showboat at the finish with an unnecessary jump, losing her balance and allowing Tanja Frieden to win gold.
Dutchman Kramer, the overwhelming favorite to win his second gold medal at the Vancouver Olympics was disqualified after his coach sent him into the wrong lane eight laps from the finish on Tuesday while leading by a five-second margin.
"I wish it had not happened but it is a reality. Games are about triumph and defeat. I prefer it never to happen but it adds to the mystique of the Games. (If I were the team leader) the first thing I would do is I would say nothing," Rogge, who took part in three Olympics, said. "I would let the rage out, recover, compose and then I would say he is the best skater of his generation.
"He is equal to Eric Heiden, Kees Verkerk, Johann Koss, Ard Schenk," Rogge told reporters while sitting at the stands of the Richmond Oval.
American Heiden swept the gold medals in all individual events at the 1980 Lake Placid Games, while Dutchmen Verkerk and Schenk won gold medals at the 1968 Grenoble and 1972 Sapporo Olympics.
Norwegian Koss grabbed three gold medals all in world record time at the 1994 Lillehammer Games.
"He is of that calibre. I suffer with him. He is still the number one and should go out and try to win a gold in the team pursuit," Rogge said. "I know it is painful," he said, adding the mistake was unique for the Olympics. "There is nothing that comes to my mind spontaneously at the Games."
Four years ago American Lindsey Jacobellis denied herself the gold medal in the snowboard cross when she decided to showboat at the finish with an unnecessary jump, losing her balance and allowing Tanja Frieden to win gold.
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