Friday 29 October 2021
Historic Olympic mission
49-year-old Pechstein dupes “young chickens”
Claudia Pechstein has successfully started her Olympic mission: the 49-year-old is the 40th German champion and is taking a big step towards a historic Olympic brand. The lead over the young competition almost affects them.
Claudia Pechstein won her 40th national title at the start of the German speed skating championships in Inzell. The 49-year-old Berliner won over 3000 meters in 4: 11.82 minutes ahead of Michelle Uhrig (4: 16.27). Third place went to Victoria Stirnemann, the 19-year-old daughter of record world champion Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann, with a personal best of 4: 16.92 minutes.
This marks the start of the eighth Olympic Games for Pechstein. Thanks to her title win, she is now already a participant in the first four World Cup races, in which the tickets for the Winter Games in Beijing will be awarded. The Berliner will also be at the start in Inzell over 5000 meters and in the mass start. “I am quite satisfied, although I had a little hangover in my run. If you want to go to the Olympics, you have to run well at the German championships and have the young chickens under control. And I packed that pretty well,” said Pechstein after her 13th title in total on the 3000 meter distance.
“In Holland I would be a pensioner”
Pechstein would be the first woman to take part in the winter games for the eighth time. So far this has only been granted to the Japanese ski jumper Noriaki Kasai. The distance to the competition makes them a bit questionable. “But that has been the case for at least ten years. In Holland I would have been a pensioner for 15 years, but the boys have to train hard and try to beat Pechstein,” said the oldest top speed skater.
In the men’s 5000 meter competition, Patrick Beckert lived up to his role as a favorite. The 31-year-old Erfurt won the 23rd title of his career in 6: 18.68 minutes. The Thuringian is also qualified for the World Cup series.