Beijing (AP) – Speed skater Claudia Pechstein celebrated the race over 3000 meters at the Winter Olympics in Beijing despite finishing last. “That was a win for me.
With the start on the 3000 meters, I officially set this record,” said the 49-year-old. The Berliner is the first woman to take part in the Winter Games for the eighth time. She has set the record for the Japanese ski jumper Noriaki Kasai. “There you can only walk across the line with a cheer,” said the five-time Olympic champion.
In 4:17.16 minutes, Pechstein took 20th place among 20 starters. Irene Schouten from the Netherlands became Olympic champion in 3:56.93 minutes. The European Champion also broke the Olympic record set by Claudia Pechstein, who won gold 20 years ago at the Winter Games in Salt Lake City in 3:57.70 minutes. Francesca Lollobrigida from Italy finished second in the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing in 3:58.06 minutes ahead of Isabelle Weidemann from Canada (3:58.64).