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 his 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.
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