Dutch world champion Kai Verbij puts sportsmanship ahead of Olympic speed skating medal

Kai Verbij’s act of sportsmanship has meant the reigning 1000m speed skating world champion finished last in the event at the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Verbij backed off on the final crossover straight on Friday night, knowing he didn’t have quite enough speed to get in front of Canada’s Laurent Dubreuil.

Rather than a risk a collision, Verbij popped out of his racing crouch and slowed so he stayed clear of Dubreuil, who zipped away to capture the silver medal.

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With his medal chances gone, Verbij coasted to the finish.

“I’m pretty sad I couldn’t set a proper time,” Verbij said.

“But Laurent skated really, really fast in the first 600. It can happen. After the second inner, I didn’t feel I had enough speed to go before him in the lane change, so I had to quit.

“Otherwise, I would’ve been disqualified and probably messed up his race.”

In speed skating, the competitors are required to change lanes on the back straightaway of each full lap, because the inner lane of the 400m oval covers a shorter distance than the outer lane.

The skater going from the outer to inner lane has priority and there’s usually no issue with the changeover.

But Dubreuil, whose best race is the 500, went out exceptionally fast. That left him even with Verbij as they came off the next-to-last turn.

Rather than attempt a risky move, Verbij gave way to his competitor.

“I can’t say thank you enough to him,” Dubreuil said.

“It was a really professional and classy move to do. He’s a friend, so when he’s gets over it - I will give him some time - I will thank him for sure.”

Dubreuil said it was “unfortunate for us to be tied with 250 to go.”

“I went faster than I’ve ever