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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Groothuis win continues Netherlands' speed skating dominance in Sochi | Groothuis win continues Netherlands' speed skating dominance in Sochi |
| (7 months later) | |
| The Dutch domination of speed skating continued in Sochi on Wednesday, with a gold and bronze in the men’s 1000m, as USA’s Shani Davis failed in his bid for third consecutive Olympic gold. | The Dutch domination of speed skating continued in Sochi on Wednesday, with a gold and bronze in the men’s 1000m, as USA’s Shani Davis failed in his bid for third consecutive Olympic gold. |
| Stefan Grooths recorded a 1:08.39 to take the top spot at Adler Arena Skating Center. Canada’s Denny Morrison won silver with a 1:08.43 and The Netherlands’ Michel Mulder took the bronze with a 1:08.74. | |
| USA’s Davis failed to make the podium in his signature race, falling to eighth in an event that he won in Turin and Vancouver. | USA’s Davis failed to make the podium in his signature race, falling to eighth in an event that he won in Turin and Vancouver. |
| Groothius, 32, was fourth in the 1000m at the Vancouver Olympics and eighth at Torino in 2006. His gold medal winning time easily beat his best World Cup performance this season of 1:09.22. | Groothius, 32, was fourth in the 1000m at the Vancouver Olympics and eighth at Torino in 2006. His gold medal winning time easily beat his best World Cup performance this season of 1:09.22. |
| Morrison, 28, was part of Canada’s gold medal winning team pursuit at Vancouver, but had not reached the podium in an individual event at the last two Winter Games. | Morrison, 28, was part of Canada’s gold medal winning team pursuit at Vancouver, but had not reached the podium in an individual event at the last two Winter Games. |
| Michel Mulder won gold in the 500m competition on Monday, topping the podium alongside his twin brother Ronald who took the bronze. | Michel Mulder won gold in the 500m competition on Monday, topping the podium alongside his twin brother Ronald who took the bronze. |
| The Dutch are the reigning champions in speed skating and have won ten medals in speed skating so far; four gold, two silver and four bronze. They are expected to take home even more medals with seven more speed skating competitions on the horizon, including the men’s and women’s 1500m. | The Dutch are the reigning champions in speed skating and have won ten medals in speed skating so far; four gold, two silver and four bronze. They are expected to take home even more medals with seven more speed skating competitions on the horizon, including the men’s and women’s 1500m. |
| Davis was the heavy favorite coming into the competition, after winning three of four World Cup races this season. He has also held the men’s 1000m world record since March 2009, when he recorded a 1:06.42 in Salt Lake City, Utah. | Davis was the heavy favorite coming into the competition, after winning three of four World Cup races this season. He has also held the men’s 1000m world record since March 2009, when he recorded a 1:06.42 in Salt Lake City, Utah. |
| Another pre-race favorite, South Korea’s Mo Tae-bum, was twelfth. Tae-bum was the only person to beat Davis in the 2013-2014 World Cup season so far. | Another pre-race favorite, South Korea’s Mo Tae-bum, was twelfth. Tae-bum was the only person to beat Davis in the 2013-2014 World Cup season so far. |
| Davis, who is beloved by Dutch speed skating fans, will also be competing for a medal in the long-track 1,500 on Saturday. He won a silver medal in that race in the past two Olympics and has held the world record for that distance since December 2009. | Davis, who is beloved by Dutch speed skating fans, will also be competing for a medal in the long-track 1,500 on Saturday. He won a silver medal in that race in the past two Olympics and has held the world record for that distance since December 2009. |
| Men’s speed skating coach Ryan Shimabukuro may also pick Davis for the team pursuit competition. Earlier this week, Davis also competed in the 500m race, taking the 28th spot. | Men’s speed skating coach Ryan Shimabukuro may also pick Davis for the team pursuit competition. Earlier this week, Davis also competed in the 500m race, taking the 28th spot. |
| Davis’ failed attempt at a triple comes a day after fellow American Shaun White failed at his attempt to earn his third consecutive gold in his signature event – the men’s snowboard halfpipe. | Davis’ failed attempt at a triple comes a day after fellow American Shaun White failed at his attempt to earn his third consecutive gold in his signature event – the men’s snowboard halfpipe. |