Bloemen wins 10,000m world single distances silver in Russia
World record holder Ted-Jan Bloemen has won silver in the men’s 10,000-metre competition at the ISU World Single Distances Championships in Kolomna, Russia.
Finishing behind Dutchman Sven Kramer, Bloemen skated to a time of 12 minutes, 59.69 seconds, only 2.92s behind the winner. Another Netherlands skater, Erik Jan Kooiman took the bronze medal.
RELATED: Bloemen breaks world record
Ted-Jan Bloemen (left) on the world single distances podium after finishing second on February 11, 2016 in the men’s 10,000m.
Bloemen became the first Canadian to win a world single distances medal in the 10,000m. It comes in the same season where he broke the world record in the distance, resetting Kramer’s eight-year old mark by more than five seconds in Salt Lake City on November 21, 2015 in 12:36.30.
“It was a really hard race today. It was a struggle for me,” Bloemen said. He had suffered a terrible cut to his leg during training at one of the World Cup races in late 2015.
“I couldn’t really find my pace like I was able to earlier this season, like in Salt Lake City. I was fighting against fatigue and my lap times. But I was really happy when I saw my time at the finish line. I was 10 seconds faster that I’ve ever been before on a track at sea level.”
The single distances continue through the weekend, with Bloemen having another chance at a medal on Friday in men’s team pursuit as part of a trio that includes Jordan Belchos, who finished fifth in the 10,000m on Thursday.
