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Hedrick wins Olympic gold in 5,000 meters
By BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer
TURIN, Italy (AP) -- Chad Hedrick began his quest to equal Eric Heiden's record of five gold medals in a Winter Olympics, winning the 5,000 meters Saturday.
The brash-talking speedskater from Texas covered the grueling 12 1/2 laps in 6 minutes, 14.68 seconds, about 17 hours after marching in the opening ceremony of his first games.
With his mouth hanging wide open, Hedrick glided into first place after 3 1/2 laps. He soon opened up a huge gap between himself and Bob de Jong of the Netherlands.
With first lady Laura Bush and daughter Barbara cheering him, Hedrick pumped his right fist and yelled "Whoo!" on his cool-down lap. The predominantly orange-clad Dutch crowd applauded him and tossed Hedrick an orange cap.
By winning the first speedskating event of the Turin Games, Hedrick backed up yet another of his predictions. Three days ago, he had said: "I don't expect to walk away with anything less than a gold medal."
His confidence was justified, having won world championships in the 5,000 the last two years.
Sven Kramer of the Netherlands earned the silver in 6:16.40. Enrico Fabris of Italy, skating in the final pair, delighted the hometown fans by taking bronze in 6:18.25.
Hedrick had mentally circled Feb. 11 on his calendar each year since he switched from inline skating to the ice after the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.
The date was significant because Saturday marked the 13th anniversary of his grandmother's death from brain cancer. Geraldine Hedrick was her grandson's best friend while he was growing up in Spring, Texas, as the son of a roller rink owner. He had said Saturday's race would be for her.
So eager was Hedrick to take the medals podium, he stepped onto the top spot even before the announcer could get out his name. He broke into a wide, toothy smile, then shook hands with Kramer and Fabris and thrusted his bouquet into the air.
Hedrick will have to be patient about getting his gold. The medals will be presented Sunday at a ceremony in downtown Turin.
Americans Shani Davis and KC Boutiette finished seventh and 19th, respectively.
The race went off without defending champion Jochem Uytdehaage, who didn't make the Dutch team. American Derek Parra, the 2002 silver medalist, didn't qualify in the event.
The 5,000 was one of the most wide-open events in these games, with the world record having changed hands three times over six days in November.
Hedrick, Eskil Ervik of Norway and Kramer took turns lowering the mark. Ervik set a new standard during a meet in Calgary, only to see Hedrick take it back with a faster time in the next pair. The following weekend, Kramer broke Hedrick's record by nearly a second.
Ervik wound up 10th among 28 skaters Saturday.
During the presentation of flowers to the medallists, the public address person announced Heil as being from the United States. Heil turned and glared at the announcer as the crowd booed its disapproval before the error was corrected.
Man, glaring is the least i would have done :haha:
__________________ The Ottawa Sentators have Phyllophobia.
Well, infront of a billion people anything that deems to be un-glare like behaviour may just send you down to the dustbin of history.
I think, people tend to forget that a billion something people watch the Olympics. As I've said, athletes pose a role model position, and good sportsmanship on and off the turf shows the true colours of an athlete.
Hopefully - and I do feel bad for Beckie that this isn't going to be a habit; not being able to convert World Cup/World Championships into Olympic Medals.
__________________ The Ottawa Sentators have Phyllophobia.
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