Sprinters prepare for their first Olympic event
February 14, 2010—Richmond, British Columbia
U.S. Olympians Tucker Fredricks (Janesville, WI), Nick Pearson (West Allis, WI) and Shani Davis (Chicago, IL), along with Mitch Whitmore (Waukesha, WI) making his Olympic debut, start off the sprint speedskating races tomorrow at the Richmond Olympic Oval. Skating the 500m, these long track athletes will be skating 1.25 laps around the oval as fast as possible.
The Olympic record to break (34.42) was set by U.S. Olympic gold medalist Casey FitzRandolph in 2002; Jeremy Wotherspoon (CAN) currently holds the world record for the 500m (34.03); and Fredricks holds the American record at 34.31. Fredricks finished 25th in this event during the 2006 Olympic Winter Games but has come back to become a medal contender for these Games.
“I matured pretty quick after the Torino Games,” Fredricks said. “I feel really good now.”
In this fast race, there is no room for error, and with eight or ten medal contenders, anything can happen. Fredricks is currently ranked fourth in World Cup standings, winning a medal at each World Cup competition this season. Athletes skate two 500m races during the event with the best combined time taking the medal.
Racing begins at 3:30 p.m. at the Richmond Olympic Oval.