It’s Wust to First for Dutch

The Dutch have another speedskating star at the Olympics, and an unlikely one at that.

Nineteen-year-old Ireen Wust took an early lead in the 3,000 meters by finishing in a personal-best 4 minutes 2.43 seconds Sunday night, then listened to music through headphones while the favored veterans from Germany and Canada failed to beat her time at Turin.

“It is crazy that it was good enough for gold,” Wust said.

Wust’s mentor and teammate Renate Groenewold won silver, and world-record holder Cindy Klassen of Canada took bronze.

Wust anxiously watched as eight other skaters, including all the favorites, took their shot.

By the time the final pair of the day began, Wust was pacing along the inside of the track.

When they finished and Wust realized that she had won gold, she fell to her knees before jumping up and hugging Coach Gerard Kempkers.

Crown Prince Willem Alexander, heir to the Dutch throne, looked on from the stands, filled with orange-clad Dutch fans.

SKI JUMPING

Bystoel Comes From Behind to Win Gold

Lars Bystoel of Norway came from behind to win the Olympic gold medal in normal hill ski jumping at Pragelato.

Bystoel, who was tied for sixth after the first jump, rallied on the second jump as several contenders faltered. He won the medal with jumps of 101.5 meters and 103.5 meters for a total of 266.5 points.

Matti Hautamaki of Finland took the silver, one point behind Bystoel. Another Norwegian, Roar Ljoekelsoey, won the bronze another point back.

Defending Olympic champion Simon Ammann of Switzerland was eliminated after Sunday’s first round.

CROSS-COUNTRY

Dementiev’s Strategy Pays Off in Victory

Eugeni Dementiev just wanted to stay with the leaders and give himself a chance at the end.

With such a deep and talented field, the Russian had no idea his plan would work so well.

He surged from behind and overtook several skiers in the final 100 meters to win the 30-kilometer men’s pursuit race Sunday at Pragelato for his first Olympic medal on the first day of cross-country competition.

Frode Estil of Norway recovered from a fall and broken ski that cost him 45 seconds to take silver, and Italy’s Pietro Piller Cottrer settled for bronze. Dementiev won in 1 hour 17 minutes and 0.8 of a second.

Smigun Surges to Win With Homestretch Push

Kristina Smigun of Estonia won the 15-kilometer pursuit Sunday at Pragelato, cross-country’s first event of the Turin Games since a dozen skiers were suspended five days for elevated blood hemoglobin. Smigun made the best of the small field.

She made a strong push in the homestretch to overtake silver medalist Katerina Neumannova of the Czech Republic, winning in 42 minutes 48.7 seconds. Russia’s Evgenia Medvedeva-Abruzova earned bronze.