Olympic speedskating: Men’s 5000m results and highlights

The Netherlands earned a gold medal on Sunday morning in the Men’s 5,000M speedskating competition, with Sven Kramer taking his third straight gold.

It wasn’t close. For the 31-year-old Kramer, the race for gold was more of a victory lap by the end, beating Ted-Jam Bloeman of Canada by almost two full seconds. Bloemen would earn the silver medal while Norway’s Sverre Lunde Pedersen took bronze in the Men’s 5000 meter speed skating final. Kramer set the pace with a winning time of 6:07:76.

However, the story is about Kramer. Far from a household name here in the United States, Kramer should be celebrated as one of the greatest skaters in Olympic history. The Dutchman has now won three consecutive gold medals in the 5,000M, and according to the Olympic website, is now the first man in history to win a trio of golds in the same speed skating event.

MEDAL RESULT | Speed Skating - Men's 5,000m

Sven Kramer

Ted-Jam Bloemen

Sverre Lunde Pedersen

All told, Kramer has an incredible eight medals to his name.

"“I’ve won a lot and lost a lot, but this is really special for me,” Kramer said after completing his golden hat-trick. “Breaking the Olympic record is amazing. I keep on progressing every four years, and that’s nice to see.”"

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Without qualification, Kramer was the favorite heading into the race but he wasn’t without a test from the competition. Bloemen was expected to be the stiffest challenge of the group and was, although by race’s end, the outcome had been decided.

As for Pedersen, it was his first Olympic medal of any kind, giving him the moment of a lifetime.