Sven Kramer wins ninth European allround speed skating title

DutchNews, January 9, 2017

Sven Kramer and Ireen Wust win European allround titles. Photo: Leo
Vogelzang VO via HH 

Speed skater Sven Kramer consolidated his dominance of speed skating by picking up his ninth European allround title on Sunday. 

The 30-year-old from Friesland had been strong all weekend and clinched the title with a 10km win in 13.06.30. 

The allround title is made up of races over 500, 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 metres. Kramer has won the title every year since 2007 apart from 2011 and 2014 when he was out through injury. 

The silver medal went to fellow Dutchman Jan Blockhuijsen and Bart Swings of Belgium took the bronze. 

On Saturday, Ireen Wust of the Netherlands won her fifth European all-around title. Wust won the first three of four races and had huge lead going into the closing 5,000 meters. That was won by title holder Martina Sablikova, who finished second in the competition. 

Wust, who is 30, won her first Olympic medal at the 2006 games in Turin while still a teenager. The women’s event comprises the 500, 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000 metres.