10,000 metres, Men

To complete the long 10000 m programme in time, the race started at 9 in the morning. The sun had not yet reached the rink, and the first few races were skated in the cold. Only a handful of spectators witnessed these pairs, which featured all medal contenders.

1500 m champion Charles Mathiesen opened with 17:41.2, a new Olympic Record. This time was challenged by Max Stiepl in the third pair. The 10 km was the Austrian’s best event: he had won it twice at European Championships, and had finished second to Birger Wasenius in the World Championships at Davos prior to the Olympics. His final time of 17:30.0 was more than 20 seconds faster than his time at the fast Swiss rink, and a medal looked certain. Much depended on the next race, between Ivar Ballangrud and Wasenius. Both skaters had won medals in the previous days, but Wasenius had not yet beaten Ballangrud. The two went out much faster than Stiepl, and were neck-to-neck for four kilometres. Ballangrud then started to edge ahead, taking a little more advantage each lap. Towards, the end, Wasenius crept back a little, but could not close the 5-second gap.

Wasenius’ split time at the bell was equal to that of Stiepl, but he won nearly two seconds in that last lap, for his second silver medal of the Games, and third medal in all. Ballangrud improved on his season’s best with 17:24.3, only seven seconds from the World Record.