Czech Republic's Sablikova romps to Olympic 3000m gold

From Sportsbeat staff, in Vancouver

FIVE-time world champion speed skater Martina Sablikova added Olympic gold to her illustrious CV with a blistering performance in the 3000m at Richmond Olympic Oval.

TOO STRONG: The Czech Republic's Martina Sablikova takes 3000m speed skating gold with a powerful performance at Vancouver 2010 (Getty Images)

The 22-year-old romped home in 4:02.53 minutes, clocking a new track record to clinch victory ahead of Germany's Stephane Beckert and Canada's Kristina Groves.

Sablikova, the world record holder over 5000m, was in scintillating form in her second Olympic appearance and carved more than eight seconds off the USA's Nancy Swider-Peltz Jr.

The Canadian skaters threatened briefly to usurp the Czech, but both Groves and Clara Hughes died off in the latter stages of the race, unable to compete with Sablikova's superior stamina.

It was Beckert, who took silver, catching her pairing Groves in the final straight, ensuring the Canadian had to settle for bronze.

But no-one could live with Sablikova, who has been in dominant form this season, taking victory in three of the five World Cups to date.

"The victory was all based on my training and on my preparation. I did my best and it was of course based on the atmosphere the spectators created for me," said Sablikova.

"I don't think there is any secret to it. It's the technique I have. It's what works for me. It's how I skate."

"In the 5000m I believe that Stephanie will be my rival again. As you can see she is a great skater in the 3000m and I think she will be very good in the 5000m as well."

Defending Olympic champion Irene Wust of the Netherlands made Sablikova sweat and, as part of the last pairing, was more than a second ahead of her Czech rival at the halfway stage.

But Wust has not shown the form that saw her top the podium in Turin this season, and she also fell away in the closing stages, handing the Czech Republic their first ever 3000m Olympic gold medal and ensuring Groves clung on for bronze.

"The entire year I've been through phases to get physical and mental together. I am glad I put it all together today," said Groves.

"Honestly, I have never heard a crowd that loud for Canada. It is special for me and for anyone else. I had goose bumps when Cindy Klassen was racing and I am having goose bumps thinking about it right now."

Hughes, who carried the Canadian flag at Friday's Opening Ceremony, is a one of the few athletes to hold medals form both the Summer and Winter Olympics, having secured two cycling bronze medals at Atlanta 1996, before grabbing speed skating gold last time out in Turin.

But at 37, in what is her final Olympic appearance, she did not have to legs to claim a sixth Olympic medal.

Earlier, the competition was nearly delayed during the mid-point interval when the resurfacing machine apparently leaked on the outside lane.

The outside lane was then resurfaced for a second time, 12 minutes after the inside lane had been, much to the ire of a number of team managers.

AS IT HAPPENS: Day three of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver

IN PICTURES: Martina Sablikova's 3000m speed skating victory