Dresden / Germany

#EuroShortTrack                                 #ShortTrackSkating

Sjinkie Knegt won the men’s 1000m at the ISU European Short Track Speed Skating 2018 in Dresden – adding to his 500m and 1500m gold medals from Saturday. 

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With Victor An (RUS) coming last in his quarter-final, one of the early favourites did not line up. Instead, a five-man field of Knegt, Semion Elistratov (RUS) Tommaso Dotti (ITA) and Roberto Pukitis (LAT) took to the ice at the EnergieVerbund Arena. 

Knegt was completely dominant, winning by a couple of metres, allowing himself time to look around and celebrate wildly at the finish. 

He almost did not make the final, however, after finishing third in his semi-final, and only advancing after the judges decided he had been blocked.

Elistratov took silver, while Pukitis secured bronze.

“It was the perfect race today,” said Knegt. “In the semi and quarter, I was feeling a little bit tired, but the final went very well.

“For me that’s great because it is confirmation that I’m on the right route as PyeongChang is approaching. I’m really happy.”

Sébastien Lepape (FRA) won the B final.