WASHINGTON, United States—Russia’s Pavel Kulizhnikov became the first speedskater to break 34 seconds for 500 meters, setting a world record at the distance Friday to win the event at a World Cup event.
At the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic oval, Kulizhnikov skated to a world record of 33.98 seconds, breaking the old mark of 34.00 he set the week before at a World Cup stop in Calgary, Canada. Both ovals are considered among the world’s fastest.
Before the 21-year-old Russian’s sensational skates, the world record had been 34.03 by Canada’s Jeremy Wotherspoon in November of 2007.
Last season, Kulizhnikov won the world 500-meter title as well as the world sprint crown.
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