Romme Wins Second Gold Medal

Gianni Romme shattered another world record for his second gold medal, winning the 10,000 meters Tuesday in 13 minutes 15.13 seconds, a whopping 15 seconds faster than Johann Olav Koss’ world-record time in 1994.

Teammates Bob de Jong and Rintje Ritsma finished second and third, giving the Netherlands a sweep and pushing its speedskating medals to 10, the most it has ever won at the Olympics.

When the race was over, Romme was so exhausted that he could do little more than raise his arms.

For Romme, these Olympics have been a time for celebration. Last week as the speedskating competition began, he set a world record in winning the 5,000.

“I think I skated two excellent races here,” he said. “I think that’s what I know about my skating--I skated the best I could, and I was the fastest.”

As for Koss the Boss?

Working for an Australian television station, the Norwegian predicted beforehand that Romme would break his record, maybe by as many as 30 seconds.

Of course, Koss skated before clapskates came along. With a hinged blade that stays on the ice a fraction of a second longer, records have been falling at a rapid-clap rate.

But Romme made much more noise than the clickety-clack of the skates.

He beat Ritsma in the 5,000 meters by six seconds, or about 80 meters. In the 10,000, he finished about 130 meters ahead of de Jong.

“My technique is the most important part in skating,” he said. “Every year, it’s better.”

De Jong knew the best he could do was silver. He finished in 13:25.76, which would have easily eclipsed Koss’ record but on this day was 10 seconds too slow.

“I knew after the 5,000 by Gianni, nobody could get him,” de Jong said.

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MEDALISTS

Speedskating

MEN’S 10,000-METER

Gold: Gianni Romme, Netherlands

Silver: Bob de Jong, Netherlands

Bronze: Rintje Ritsma, Netherlands