While the United States women’s hockey team made headlines with its dramatic win over Canada in a shootout late Wednesday, the U.S. men’s long track speedskating team pursuit squad quietly exited into the night at the Geungneung Oval. It was a quiet end to Marquette junior and College of Engineering student Emery Lehman’s Olympic Games.
Canada defeated the United States Wednesday with a time of 3:42.16. The U.S. finished at 3:50.77. Team USA finished nearly eight seconds behind its time in the quarterfinals last Sunday.
On the whole, the U.S. speedskaters have not fared well for the second consecutive Olympics, particularly at the long track level, as the United States have claimed just a total of two Olympic medals between the men’s and women’s short and long track teams. One came in short track as John Henry Kreuger won silver in the men’s 1,000 meter race.
While the men’s team pursuit squad failed to hit the mark, the women’s team pursuit squad finished on the podium, taking home the bronze medal. The third place finish ended a U.S. women’s speedskating drought of sixteen years without a medal.
“We may have gotten last, but it’s ok because our ladies team pursuit team killed it!” Lehman said in an Instagram post.
U.S. men’s long track speedskating has two more chances for an individual to win a medal, as Joey Mantia will race in the 1,000 meter race Friday and the mass skate Saturday.