Sven Kramer, the most decorated Olympic male speed skater in history, reportedly struggled with a back injury and ended his season with a 19th-place finish in the 5000m at the world championships on Thursday.
Kramer, the Dutchman who won the 5000m at the last three Olympics, skated 27.13 seconds slower than surprise gold medalist Nils van der Poel of Sweden in a six-minute event in Heerenveen.
Van der Poel, 24, went three years between World Cup starts until January, when he lowered his national record in the 5000m by nearly eight seconds. He’s the first Swede to win an individual medal at single distance worlds, which debuted in 1996.