CANADA: HOME OF FAST MEN
Canadian speedskaters finished second through fifth in the men’s 500 meters, and American Casey FitzRandolph, who finished sixth, thinks he knows why.
“They have the fastest ice in the world up there [at the 1988 Olympic rink in Calgary] and in a year that everyone is trying to adjust to new [clapskates], what better ice to do that on? They get used to those high speeds on the new skates and it shows.
“We’ve got to look at next year. We’ve got to get on fast ice, with fast guys, and get in the 25-second laps and tempos during the week like all the Canadian guys. [We have to] get used to going those speeds so it doesn’t feel so abnormal when you do reach them.”
Before the Games began, nine of the 10 women’s world and Olympic records had been set at Calgary and five of the 10 men’s.
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
