Bloemen kicks off Olympic long-track speedskating trials with 5k victory
CALGARY — Ted-Jan Bloemen may be the world-record holder in the men’s 5,000 metres, but the speedskater still had to earn the right to race it at the upcoming Winter Olympics.
The 31-year-old from Calgary made life simple for himself, and Speed Skating Canada’s selection committee that ultimately decides who races for Canada, by winning the distance Thursday to kick off the Olympic long-track trials.
Canada has only one quota spot in the Olympic men’s 5k, so Bloemen had to beat his Canadian teammates Thursday to get it, despite his world No. 1 ranking in the distance.
“It was important for me to win this race obviously,” Bloemen said. “There was pressure for me too. I was aware it could still go wrong. I still have to do it, right?”