´óÏó´«Ã½

The men's & women's team pursuit speed skating medals are won at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

In the men's race reigning Olympic champions Norway clocked the fastest time in Sunday’s quarter-finals, with world record holders the USA just four hundredths of a second slower. Both the Russian Olympic Committee and the Netherlands need to find pace – they were 1.2 and 1.43 seconds slower respectively. The Dutch line-up includes 35-year-old Sven Kramer, the most decorated male speed skater in Olympic history. He has nine medals, including four gold, and the team pursuit is his best chance of increasing that tally. The USA’s star man Joey Mantia was rested for Sunday’s quarter-finals and they will hope his return gives them the edge on Tuesday.

In the women's race Japan and Canada look favourites to progress to the final. Japan, who are reigning Olympic champions and world record holders, broke the Olympic record in Saturday’s quarter-finals. Canada were within 0.36 seconds of Japan’s time but the Netherlands were 3.65 seconds adrift and the Russians 4.05 off. The Dutch line-up includes Ireen Wust, who is the most decorated speed skater in the history of the Games and the Netherlands’ most successful Olympian. Her final event is scheduled to be Thursday’s 1000m but this event probably represents a better chance of adding to her medal haul; she has six gold medals, five silver and one bronze.