Merijn Scheperkamp will compete against the Chinese Tao Yang in stage 8 at the Olympic Games in Beijing today in the 500 meters. For the 21-year-old Dutch sprinter it is his debut at the Games. Kai Verbij takes on Russian Ruslan Murashov in the next stage.
Thomas Krol comes into action early in the 500 meters. The winner of Olympic silver in the 1500 meters will compete in stage 3 against Jeffrey Rosanelli from Italy. The 500 meters in the National Speed Skating Oval in the Chinese capital starts at 9.53 am Dutch time.
The shortest sprint distance was long decided at the Olympics over two races. In 2018, when Havard Lorentzen rushed to gold, that was not the case. Also at these Winter Games in Beijing, one round will decide who will become the Olympic champion at 500 meters.
1. Gelinas (Can) – Kleba (US)
2. Arzhanikov (Kaz) – Kersten (GB)
3. krol – Rosanelli (Ita)
4. Junio (Can) – Bosa (Ita)
5. Magnussen (Noo) – Stolz (US)
6. Liiv (Estonian) – Dufter (Germany)
7. Gao (Chi) – Zurek (Pol)
8.Yang (Chi) – Scheperkamp
9. Murashov (Russian) – get away
10. Kania (Pol) – Cha (ZKo)
11. Kim (ZKo) – Lorentzen (Noo)
12. Golovachuk (Blr) – Mikhalsky (Pol)
13. Murakami (Jap) – Arefiev (Russian)
14. Mushtakov (Russian) – Morishige (Jap)
15. Dubreuil (Can) – Shinhama (Jap)
Several winners
There have been many different winners in the 500 meters this season. The Chinese Gao Tingyu, who drove under 34 seconds several times this season, will already compete in stage 7 against the Pole Damian Zurek. Defending champion Havard Lorentzen from Norway will compete in stage 11 against Kim Jun-ho from South Korea. Reigning world champion Laurent Dubreuil from Canada will compete against Japan’s Tatsuya Shinhama in the final stage.
For the men’s 500 meters, the women will compete in the quarter-finals of the team pursuit. The Dutch team with Ireen Wüst, Irene Schouten, Antoinette de Jong and Marijke Groenewoud will face Norway in the second of the four quarterfinals. That race starts at 09:00 Dutch time.
Scheperkamp thinks 34.3 is necessary
,,It’s getting closer and that exciting feeling in my lower abdomen is coming’, says debutant Scheperkamp. ,,But I see it as a 500 meters like every 500 meters. There are more cameras along the line and there is more attention, but I only have to skate 500 meters.”
Scheperkamp survived the exciting battle at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Heerenveen and then won the 500 meters, with which he was certain of participation in the Games. It was the most pressured race he has ever driven. ,,They say you can only lose in that game, but I think I could really win something there. I would have been happy if I had finished third and qualified for the European Championship distances.”
Scheperkamp also wants to keep the pressure off himself for the 500 meters in the Olympic skating hall. “I’m still so into it. I have nothing to lose and am not a candidate for a medal. I would surprise myself if I got a medal. For the rest, there is not much to gain.” He thinks a time of 34.3 is needed for the Olympic gold. “I don’t think I can do that. I try to learn and absorb many things. I’m going to pack all that in my backpack for the rest of my career.”
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