1,500 metres, Women

After her victory in the 3,000 m, all eyes were on Ireen Wüst to win a second gold medal in the 1,500 m. The defending champion from Vancouver, Wüst had won two of the three World Cup races in which she had participated prior to the Olympics, although the 2013-14 season’s first World Cup had been won by her compatriot Lotte van Beek, who had also won silver behind Wüst at the 2013 World Championships. The third World Cup victor at the start was Brittany Bowe, although she had - along with most of the US team - disappointed in her earlier appearances in Sochi. An outsider in the field was a third Dutchwoman, Jorien ter Mors. Originally a short-track speed skater, she had tried out long track at her coach’s suggestion. This try-out had turned out successfully, surprisingly winning the Dutch all-round title in 2013. Due to illness, ter Mors had performed below expectations at the Dutch trials, and had only managed to qualify for the 1,500 m.

Ter Mors, not having competed much in the World Cup circuit, was drawn early in the schedule, racing in the last pair before the ice resurfacing break. The Dutch opening ceremony flagbearer demolished Wüst’s 2013 track record by nearly 2 seconds, arriving in a new Olympic Record of 1:53.51. None of the other skaters would approach that time. Wüst had been distracted by ter Mors’ impressive mark, and could not keep her pace, finishing half a second behind the short track skater. Wüst again was half a second ahead of Van Beek, who completed the third all-Dutch podium at the Sochi Olympics. To complete the Dutch dominance, Marrit Leenstra placed 4th - albeit three seconds behind ter Mors. Although overjoyed with her Olympic gold medal (which was later augmented with a pursuit gold), ter Mors’ Olympics did not fully go as planned, as she failed to medal in her primary sport, placing 4th, 5th and 6th in the individual short-track events.