4 February. Speed Skating. Women. 1000 meters:
1. Alexandra Kachurkina (Russia) – 1:19.10
2. Kim Hyunyung (Korea) – 1:19.19
3. Ekaterina Aydova (Kazakhstan) – 1:19.53
This morning, when the ladies were warming up to run their 1,000m race, it began snowing again at Medeu. But despite the weather, more and more fans kept filling the stands. There were 34 skaters from 15 countries on the start list.
The favorites were scheduled to take the ice in the last group and Russia’s Alexandra Kachurkina, who ran in the penultimate pair, clocked the fastest time. When she crossed the finish line, the timekeeper registered 1:19.10 min. This time remained unbeaten. Kachurkina, who won the 1,500m race and came third in the 500m race earlier, won her third medal at the 2017-Universiade and her second gold medal. The Russian speed skater’s run was also an improvement on the Medeu record set for the 1,000 race. The previous record belonged to a prominent Soviet skater, Natalya Petruseva, who clocked 1:19.31 in this ‘long sprint’ race.
.JPG)
Kazakhstan’s Ekaterina Aydova, who was in the last pair to take the ice, started her race very well but slightly slowed down before the finish line and came third.
The skaters shared their impressions after the race.
Alexandra Kachurkina:
- I have grown tired over the past several days. It was difficult to skate in such weather. I am grateful to the organizers who shoveled off snow while we ran. I am happy that I was able to set the rink record.
Kim Hyunyung:
- This was my last race at the Universiade. I finished competing by winning a medal and I do not have any regrets.
Ekaterina Aydova:
- The athletes and the organizers have grown really tired over the past several competition days. It got colder and we may start coughing later today. But tomorrow together with the girls I will be running the team race and we will be fighting for a medal. I remember this rink since the time I started training and understand those people who were against covering it. This is a legendary rink and we love it the way it is. Can you imagine how those skaters who ran here back in the Soviet time would feel! I try and conquer my demons in every race I run. Anyone can get injured and I am no exception. I started training 3 months after the operation not half a year later as my doctors recommended. In all my races I feel that I slow down the last 100 meters before the finish line and lose split seconds right before it.
