Second medal for Brodka as speed skaters take bronze

Zbigniew Brodka (L) Konrad Niedzwiedzki (C) and Jan Szymanski (R) celebrate their bronze medal after beating Canada on Saturday. Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Momot

A separate race for bronze between just Canada and Poland had fans on the edges of their seats, with the Canadians taking an early lead in the eight lap race.

However, Zbigniew Brodka, Konrad Niedzwiedzki and Jan Szymanski showed grit, staging a nail-biting comeback on the penultimate lap, before storming past the Canadians in the final circuit.

After the battle for bronze was won, the Netherlands then went on to take the gold, beating South Korea in the final.

Brodka, who works as a fireman in Lowicz, central Poland, has now added a bronze to his gold in the 1500m event, winning the latter in a photo finish last Saturday by split seconds.

After the bronze was decided in the men's speed skating pursuit, the Netherlands then went on to take the gold, beating South Korea in the final.

Poland has four golds and one bronze so far, and there are hopes that the women's speed skating will add one more to the bag. (nh)