Sablikova romps to 5000m speed skating gold to complete double

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Posted: Wednesday 24th February 2010 | 23:40

MARTINA Sablikova has romped to a golden speed skating double, adding the 5000m title to her 3000m crown with a scorching run at the Richmond Olympic Oval.

BLISTERING: Martina Sablikova scorches around the Richmond Olympic Oval en route to her second gold medal at Vancouver 2010 (Getty Images)

The 22-year-old edged out Stephanie Becker en route to 3000m gold earlier in Vancouver and she repeated the trick to force the German into silver medal position over 5000m.

The 22-year-old from the Czech Republic roared home in the final pairing, crossing the line in 6:50.92 minutes for her second Olympic title and third medal in Vancouver, having also claimed 1500m bronze.

Her victory also makes up for her disappointment in Turin four years ago as Sablikova, the current world record holder, had to settle for fourth place over 5000m in her Olympic debut.

"Everyone prepared hard for this competition and the fact that the results are great adds to everyone's accomplishments. But I did find the ice hard," said Sablikova.

"Of course, I didn't expect to win medals. Now that I have won [them], I am on the verge of tears.

"In the past three days, I caught a cold, so I felt exhausted during the race. My legs were extremely sore. If Stephanie had been in the race after me, then I think she might have won."

At the halfway stage she was cruising, notably up on Beckert's time but she began to run out of steam in the closing stages but raised her game just enough to take gold by 0.47 seconds.

Beckert had piled the pressure on in her run, clocking 6:51.39 minutes and setting what was then a track record.

The 19-year-old powered her way home, getting stronger as the race went on and carving more than 4.5 seconds off the time of previous leader, Clara Hughes of Canada.

But she was forced to settle for silver, watching Sablikova edge past her and finish second to the Czech for the second time in Vancouver, having also done so in the 3000m.

Bronze went to Hughes just as it did in Salt Lake City eight years ago as the Canadian, who is one of the few Olympians to win a medal at the Summer and Winter Games, having won two road cycling bronzes, took her overall Olympic medal tally to six.