Netherlands' Kramer breaks record, wins third consecutive gold medal for 5 km Olympic track skating
Dutch skater Sven Kramer won gold in the 5 thousand meter track skating at the Winter Olympics in Gangneung on Sunday. Not only did he finish in a record time of 6,09.76, but this is also his third consecutive Olympic medal for the 5 thousand meters. With that Kramer goes down in history as the first ever man to win the same Olympic skating event three times in a row, NOS reports.
While this is Kramer's fourth gold medal in total, he is still impressed. "Even though I am 31 now, I see time and again: these are the goddamn Olympic Games! I am glad that I succeeded again", he said to NOS. He doesn't rule out that he'll add a fourth medal to his 5 thousand meter record at the next Winter Games in 2022. "I am not going to say that these are my last games. I'm still having a lot of fun at the moment."
King Willem-Alexander attended the 5 kilos skating match. He could be seen cheering Kramer on in the crowd, according to NOS.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte sent Kramer a congratulatory message. He was on a plane back to the Netherlands when Kramer won his gold, so could not give him the traditional phone call. "Wonderful achievement by Sven Kramer", Rutte said on Twitter.
5km ✅ #olympics #pyeongchang pic.twitter.com/juGIL4uBZo
— Sven Kramer (@SvenKramer86) February 11, 2018
Prachtige prestatie van @SvenKramer86: hij wint voor de derde keer op rij de gouden Olympische medaille op de 5km. Ik heb Sven een felicitatiebericht gestuurd omdat ik nu in het vliegtuig naar Nederland zit en niet kan bellen. #TeamNL #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/7JxprjhueP
— Mark Rutte (@MinPres) February 11, 2018
That feeling when you become a four-time Olympic champion. 👏👏👏 Congrats to @SvenKramer86 for his third 5000m #speedskating #gold medal. #Olympics #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/JP3LoeKhoL
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) February 11, 2018
Sven, HELD!
— TeamNL🇳🇱 (@TeamNLtweets) February 11, 2018
2010: 🥇
2014: 🥇
2018: 🥇#ZoDoenWeDat #NLwint pic.twitter.com/oIFBmSgn4c