Otterspeer takes bronze medal on final day World Cup in Nagano
Hein Otterspeer has concluded the ISU World Cup in Japan on a high note. The 31-year-old speed skater of Team Jumbo-Visma won a bronze medal in the men’s 1000-meter race at the M-Wave in Nagano on Sunday.
Otterspeer crossed the line in 1:08.95. Only the Russian speed skater Pavel Kulizhnikov (1:08.45/track record) and compatriot Kai Verbij (1:08.67) were faster. For Otterspeer, it was his first World Cup medal since March of 2018, when he won a bronze medal in the men’s second 500-meter race in Minsk, Belarus.
"It feels really good to be back on the podium at the ISU World Cup", Otterspeer said. "It wasn’t my best race. At the beginning I made some costly mistakes, but I am very satisfied with this outcome. Last year, I only won gold at the Dutch Allround and Sprint Championships, so I am happy I was able to compete on an international level again. This bronze medal gives me a boost for the National Single Distance Championships."
