Wust takes 1500m gold as Nesbitt runs out of steam

From Sportsbeat staff, in Vancouver

 THE Netherlands' Ireen Wust has captured 1500m speed skating Olympic gold as Canada's Christine Nesbitt ran out of puff in Vancouver.

DUTCH DELIGHT: Irene Wust romps to gold to deny Canada's Kristina Groves silver in Vancouver (Getty Images)

Wust has had a torrid time of things this season, and could only manage eighth over 1000m as gold went to Nesbitt. However, she blistered home in 1:56.89 minutes over 1500m to storm to the top of the podium.

"I cannot describe how happy I am. I have no words for it. I think I am the happiest person on the earth right now," said Wust.

"I don't want to be a person that always cries, but today apparently I am.

"I felt really good but it didn't work in the 3000m and 1000m. This was my last chance. I thought I had to open well and skate relaxed and everything went right."

Having laid down her marker in the 15th pair, Wust faced an anxious wait to see if she was going to collect her second Olympic title, having topped the podium over 3000m in Turin four years ago.

She had roared into the lead, 1.21 seconds ahead of compatriot Margot Boer, but fans' favourite Nesbitt as well as Kristina Groves, who took bronze in the 3000m in Vancouver were still to go.

Firstly it was the Czech Republic's Martina Sablikova, the Vancouver 3000m champion, who applied the pressure producing a scorching run on an unfancied distance for her, coming home 1.07 off the pace.

Next up to challenge Wust was Groves and she certainly made the Dutch woman sweat before crossing the line just 0.25 short to ensure that Wust was guaranteed at least bronze.

Nesbitt was paired with the USA's Jennifer Rodriguez and made a scorching start at the Richmond Olympic Oval, creeping inside Wust's time at the first split times.

But on the final lap she had nothing left in the tank - she was going nowhere quickly - affording Wust the chance to celebrate as Nesbitt was forced to settle for sixth, handing Groves silver and Sablikova bronze.

"In the 1500m I go as hard as I can from the gun and from then on you have to pace yourself," said Groves.

"You do these runs so many times at the World Cup, you just learn how to race them."

"For me, today, this was probably the hardest race I've done so far.

"The 1500 m, you kind of go all out, you can taste blood in your lungs sometimes. That's how I would describe it.

"This is the hardest race for sure, the 1500 m, but it's probably the best race for me."

 

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