5,000 metres, Women

Defending Olympic champion Martina Sáblíková was the woman to beat in this competition. Apart from her Olympic title, the Czech star had won six consecutive World Championships in the 5,000 m (2007-9, 2011-13), and had won the season’s only World Cup race. Another former champion, Claudia Pechstein placed second at that World Cup. A nine-time Olympic medallist aged 41, she was hoping to add a record 10th medal to her collection. Despite not being a specialist in the event, Ireen Wüst was seriously considered for a medal, having already claimed three medals in Sochi, and having finished second behind Sáblíková at the 2013 Worlds. The Russian crowd was hoping that Olga Graf could replicate her bronze performance from the 3,000 m.

The first skater to beat 7 minutes was Carien Kleibeuker. A competitor in 2006, Kleibeuker had switched to the Dutch marathon skating circuit, but had decided to make one last attempt at Olympic success. Her 6:55.77 at least held off her pairmate Graf, who lost half a second in the final lap to finish only 0.11 behind the Dutchwoman. The 7th pair then saw Sáblíková and Wüst pitted against each other. As always, Wüst departed fast, and held the lead through 3,800 m. Sáblíková then powered past her rival, opening up a 2.74-second gap in the final three laps, to finish in 6:51.54. In the final pair, Claudia Pechstein kept up with the leader’s pace for about 6 laps, but then quickly fell back, dropping behind Kleibeuker with three laps left.