Canadian speedskaters Ted-Jan Bloemen, Graeme Fish miss podium in 10K

Canadian long-track speedskaters Ted-Jan Bloemen and Graeme Fish fell short of the podium in the 10,000 metres on Friday at the Beijing Olympics.

Bloemen, the gold medallist at this distance in 2018 in Pyeongchang, was on a bronze-medal pace for the first half of Friday’s race before slipping into eighth in 13 minutes 1.39 seconds.

Bloemen was shaking his head and waving his hand as he passed his coach during the race, showing signs of frustration.

The Calgary skater also finished 10th in the 5,000 after winning silver in that event four years ago.

Fish, from Moose Jaw, Sask., finished sixth in 12:58.80. He won gold in the 10,000 in the World Single Distances Championship in 2020.

Fish missed the past two World Cups after contracting COVID-19.

Sweden’s Nils van der Poel won his second gold of the Olympics in the 10,000 after capturing the 5,000 title.

Van der Poel’s world-record time of 12:30.74 was almost 14 seconds ahead of silver medallist Patrick Roest of the Netherlands.

Davide Ghiotto of Italy finished third.