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World record:
Cindy Klassen, Calgary, Mar 25, 2006
18,02 - 44,83 - 1.13,11
Lowland record:
Anni Friesinger, Hamar, Jan 27, 2008
17,99 - 45,35 - 1.14,81
Olympic record:
Chris Witty, Salt Lake City, Feb 17, 2002
17,88 - 44,93 - 1.13,83
Rink Record:
Christine Nesbitt, Mar 14, 2009
18,47 - 46,57 - 1.16,28
Season best:
Christine Nesbitt, Salt Lake City, Dec 13
18,18 - 45,14 - 1.13,36
Lowland season best:
Christine Nesbitt, Berlin. Nov 7
18,36 - 46,12 - 1.15,41
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Best nation:
The USSR with 4 wins, Klara Guseva 1960 (1.34,1), Lidija Skoblikova 1964 (1.33,2), Tatjana Averina 1976 (1.28,43) and Natalja Petruseva 1980 (1.24,10). Germany (East 2 and West 1), the USA and the Netherlands each have 3.
Best individual skater:
Bonnie Blair here as well with two golds, 1992 and 1994.
Biggest win:
In Hamar 1994, Bonnie Blair stunned the rest of the field, winning in 1.18,74, 1,38 seconds ahead of silver medallist Anke Baier.
Narrowest win:
Bonnie’s first 1000 m Olympic win was less devastating. In Albertville, she skated in the 3rd pair and took the lead from Christine Aaftink by just 7/10 after an unpleasant last outer curve, laptime 33,61, finishing in 1.21,90. The two other medallists skated together in the 6th pair. Monique Garbrecht lead at the first split from the outer lane, passing 29/100 behind Blair, slightly ahead of Ye Qiaobo. Then the Chinese took over, passing the 600 still 29/100 behind Blair, but 32/100 in front of Garbrecht. Then the pain took hold. Ye chased the German down the crossing, but in the final curve, Garbrecht looked stronger, she chased Ye for the line, but the Chinese crossed first, in 1.21,92, just 2/100 behind, yelling in despair. Garbrecht had 1.22,10.
Most surprising win:
The 1000 m is a lot about Bonnie Blair it seems, but at least her wins were not surprising. That one belongs rather to another major force in women’s sprinting over more than a decade: Monika Pflug, not yet 18 years of age when she took West Germany’s second gold at the Sapporo games 1972, brushing off Henning, Titova, Keulen-Deelstra, Statkevich, Holum and the other favourites. Her best achievements at the distance before were a 6th place from the European Championship that year and a 5th in the same championship the year before. She went on to win the world sprint campionship in Eskilstuna after the games, and skated her way through 16 seasons, 5 olympic games, 2 marriages and 3 more sprint championship medals.
Happy 1000 m to everyone!
LEF