Netherlands' Kramer wins speedskating 5,000

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SOCHI, Russia - Sven Kramer leaped onto the top step of the medal stand, unleashed a scream for his Dutch fans and defiantly pointed both index fingers.

He'd been waiting four long years for this moment.

And, still, it's not enough.

Kramer got started on his road to Olympic redemption by claiming his second straight speedskating gold in the men's 5,000 meters Saturday.

After the runaway victory, Kramer made it clear he won't be satisfied unless he leaves Sochi with three gold medals. He's made too many blunders on the sport's biggest stage to settle for anything less.

"For sure, there was a lot of pressure," he said. "I knew I had to skate the race of my life."

That he did. The 27-year-old broke his own Olympic record with a time of 6 minutes, 10.76 seconds - nearly 5 seconds ahead of teammate Jan Blokhuijsen, who took the silver. Jorrit Bergsma completed a medal sweep by the powerful Dutch team by claiming the bronze.

Kramer is determined to sweep the two longest speedskating races in Sochi and help the Dutch win the team pursuit, which he figures is the only way to make up for a series of Olympic flops that have marred his otherwise brilliant career.

His biggest blunder came four years ago at the Vancouver Games, where he made an inexplicable error in the 10,000. Directed into the wrong lane by his coach, he followed the advice for some reason and was disqualified in a race he should have won easily.

Seventeen-year-old Emery Lehman of Oak Park, Ill., was the top U.S. finisher Saturday, placing 16th in his Olympic debut. Jonathan Kuck of Champaign, Ill., was 19th, one spot ahead of Patrick Meek of Chicago.

Cross-country: Marit Bjoergen earned an emotional victory in the women's 15-kilometer skiathlon, giving the Norwegian her fourth career Olympic gold medal a day after a teammate's brother died.

Sven Kramer, on his way to winning the 5,000, hopes for three gold medals. Sven Kramer, on his way to winning the 5,000, hopes for three gold medals. Photo: David J. Phillip, Associated Press Photo: David J. Phillip, Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Netherlands' Kramer wins speedskating 5,000 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Bjoergen pulled away from Swedish rival Charlotte Kalla on the final straight to win in 38 minutes, 33.6 seconds and defend her title from the 2010 Vancouver Games. Kalla was 1.8 seconds behind. Heidi Weng of Norway won a three-way sprint for the bronze medal.

It's been an emotional two days for the Norwegian team after it announced that Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen's brother died "suddenly and unexpectedly" Friday. Jacobsen was not set to compete Saturday, but her four teammates were all in tears as they embraced after the race.

Ski jumping: World Cup leader Kamil Stoch of Poland remains in top form going into the men's normal hill final.

Stoch, who already had qualified because he was among the top 10-ranked jumpers going into the event, nonetheless was among the top finishers Saturday in the qualifying round.

Two of four Americans qualified for the final - Anders Johnson of Park City, Utah, and Peter Frenette of Saranac Lake, N.Y.

Luge: Defending gold medalist Felix Loch was first after the first two runs at the Sanki Sliding Center. Loch overtook Russia's Albert Demchenko on his second run and moved closer to another title.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Armin Zoeggeler of Italy (1:44.893) was third, followed by Germany's Andi Langenhan (1:45.187).

Chris Mazdzer of Saranac Lake, N.Y., is 13th.

White at peace: Shaun White says he has no regrets about his decision to skip the Olympic slopestyle contest and focus solely on the halfpipe, in which he has won two straight gold medals.

"I can understand if it's your first time to the Olympics, you wouldn't understand a decision like the one I made," he said. "But you set your goals according to what's important to you. Halfpipe is important to me, and I didn't want to jeopardize that."

White withdrew from the Olympic debut of slopestyle after a couple of rugged days of practice that left him with a jammed wrist.