Speed skater Patrick Beckert, 31, qualified for the fourth time for the Olympic Winter Games. The long-distance specialist from Erfurt set the standard for Beijing with eighth place over 10,000 meters at the World Cup in Stavanger, Norway. Beckert needed 13: 13.26 minutes. “It was a difficult run. But the Olympic qualification was important, now we will continue training,” he said. Victory in the track record time of 12: 38.92 minutes went to world record holder and world champion Nils van der Poel from Sweden. Patrick Beckert was the first DESG athlete to meet the requirements: The five-time Olympic champion Claudia Pechstein has not yet succeeded in doing this over the 5000 meters. The 49-year-old still has options over the 3000 meters or in the mass start.
Joel Dufter had to forego a start over 500 meters on Sunday in Stavanger due to injury. Problems with the leg muscles plague Inzell. “If he had run, it might have been bad. That’s why he preferred not to run,” said national coach Helge Jasch. Because of the injury, Dufter had decided not to start in the team sprint the day before.