Ragne Wiklund Secures Bronze in Thrilling 5000m Speed Skating Race
Ragne Wiklund of Norway clinched a bronze medal in the women’s 5000m speed skating event at the Milan-Cortina Games, finishing just behind Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida and the Netherlands’ Merel Conijn in a remarkably close race. The competition was so tight that margins were incredibly small, with the top four skaters separated by mere hundredths of a second.
A Photo Finish: Wiklund’s Near Miss
Wiklund’s time of 6.46,34 was a mere 17 hundredths of a second slower than Lollobrigida’s gold-medal winning time. She was as well only seven hundredths behind Conijn, who took silver. Belgian skater Sandrine Tas finished a close fourth, just 13 hundredths of a second behind Wiklund, highlighting the intense competition.
Analyzing the Race: Small Errors, Big Impact
Despite the narrow margin, Wiklund acknowledged minor errors throughout her race. She identified a “vekslingskluss” (exchange issue) on the first long side as a key area for improvement. “I analyze all these small things that are the seven hundredths, so it’s a little irritating,” she stated after the race. She pinpointed potential timing losses in the opening, the first exchange, and a near fall during the final lap.
Lollobrigida’s Golden Performance and Season Turnaround
Francesca Lollobrigida secured her second gold medal of the Milan-Cortina Games, having previously won the 3000m event. She credited the support of her son, husband, and teammates for helping her overcome a challenging season where she initially lacked strength. Lollobrigida emphasized enjoying the competition and the enthusiastic support of the Italian crowd as key factors in her success.
A Historic Moment for Norwegian Women’s Speed Skating
Wiklund’s bronze medal represents a significant milestone for Norwegian women’s speed skating. It doubles the total number of Olympic medals won by Norwegian women in the sport, bringing the total to four. What we have is the first time a Norwegian woman has medaled in the 5000m event. Prior to Wiklund’s success, Bjørg Eva Jensen’s gold medal in 1980 was the sole achievement for Norwegian women in Olympic speed skating.
Close But No Cigar for Tas
Sandrine Tas of Belgium narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing just 30 hundredths of a second behind Lollobrigida. She expressed pride in her personal best time but lamented a crucial exchange with Merel Conijn near the end of the race, where she yielded the right-of-way, potentially costing her a podium finish.
Norwegian Medal Count on the Rise
With her silver medal on the 3000m and now a bronze on the 5000m, Ragne Wiklund has significantly contributed to Norway’s medal tally in women’s speed skating. This success builds on the legacy of Bjørg Eva Jensen, the first Norwegian woman to win an Olympic medal in the sport back in 1980.
HEIER: Norsk supporter viste tydelig hvem som var favoritten.
Foto: Luca Bruno / AP / NTB
FAQ
Q: How close was the race for the bronze medal?
A: Extremely close! Ragne Wiklund finished just 13 hundredths of a second ahead of Sandrine Tas, who finished fourth.
Q: What did Wiklund identify as areas for improvement?
A: She pointed to a “vekslingskluss” on the first long side and a near fall during the final lap as areas where she lost valuable time.
Q: What is the significance of Wiklund’s medal for Norwegian women’s speed skating?
A: It doubles the total number of Olympic medals won by Norwegian women in the sport, from two to four, and marks the first time a Norwegian woman has medaled in the 5000m event.
