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.