American Jordan Stolz claimed silver, while two-times defending Olympic 1,500m champion Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands secured bronze to round out a high-calibre podium.
Stolz entered the event as the overwhelming favourite after record-breaking victories in both the 1,000m and 500m. But the field was stacked with heavyweights – including Nuis, the 1,500m world record holder; newly crowned 5,000m Olympic champion Sander Eitrem; 10,000m gold medallist Metodej Jilek; as well as Dutchman Joep Wennemars and Poland’s Vladimir Semirunniy.
But Ning, 26, already buoyed by two bronzes at Milano Cortina – in the men’s 1,000m and the team pursuit – had other plans.
Skating in the 13th of 15 pairs, Ning started in the inner lane alongside Nuis. On a remarkable day for the distance, the Olympic record fell twice – first to Wennemars in the 11th pair, and then to Ning, who obliterated the new mark moments later.
He stopped the clock at one minute 41.98 seconds, finishing 0.77 seconds ahead of Stolz.
Ning and Nuis battled stride for stride before Ning decisively pulled ahead, but his gold was by no means guaranteed – he first faced an agonising wait as Stolz and Norway’s Peder Kongshaug – skating in the 15th pair – completed their run. Only when the last time flashed up on the board did his achievement sink in. Draped in the Chinese flag, Ning cried.
“When Jordan was skating in the last pair, I still did not think the gold was mine,” Ning said. “He has been in incredible form all season. Even after he crossed the line, I was still not completely sure.
“It was only when the result was confirmed that it started to sink in. It is an amazing feeling.”
He said it had been a long road since four years ago in Beijing.
“After the Beijing Winter Olympics, the level in speed skating just kept getting higher and higher. It felt like there was a mountain in front of me, and no matter what I did, I just could not get past it.
“But I never stopped believing in myself. I kept telling myself to stay patient, to keep putting in the work, to trust that all the effort would add up one day. Today was that day. Even now, it still feels a little unreal that I was able to do this.”
With Ning’s triumph, China now holds three gold medals at Milano Cortina, following Xu Mengtao’s victory in the women’s freestyle skiing aerials and Su Yiming’s win in the men’s snowboard slopestyle. (Reuters)
Edited by Cecil Wong
