Veteran speed skater Ted-Jan Bloemen concluded his Olympic career by finishing ninth in the men’s 10,000 meters event in Italy. Bloemen, a 39-year-old Canadian, completed 25 laps at Milano Speed Skating Stadium with a time of 13:00.01. Eight years ago, he set a Winter Games record and won a gold medal in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Expressing his emotions, Bloemen shared with CBC Sports that he felt it was the end of his Olympic journey and that he had given his all in the race, despite not achieving a podium finish this time. He mentioned his pride in maintaining a strong performance throughout the competition.
In a separate event, Bloemen placed 13th in the men’s 5,000 meters after winning a silver medal in 2018. Known for setting world records in the 10,000 meters in 2015 and the 5,000 meters in 2017, Bloemen recently secured a third-place finish in a World Cup 5,000 event in Calgary.
During the recent competition, Metodej Jilek from Czechia secured the gold medal in the 10,000 meters with a time of 12:33.43, followed by Vladimir Semirunniy from Poland. Bloemen praised Jilek’s performance, acknowledging his talent and potential for further improvement in the sport.
Looking ahead, Bloemen expressed his intention to transition into coaching, emphasizing the importance of hard work and dedication in achieving success. He believes that his experience and knowledge can benefit the next generation of speed skaters, emphasizing the value of perseverance and commitment in pursuit of goals.
