Poland struggled on the snow and ice as the conditions pushed everyone to the limit

Cross-country skiers Dominik Bury and Mateusz Haratyk raced the men’s 50km mass start over a reduced distance of 30km, due to high winds reaching 37mph making the -17°C temperature even chillier for the competitors. Whilst some athletes took the change in their stride, neither Bury or Haratyk were able to capitalise on the reduced distance, finishing 30^th and 50^th, respectively.

Bury was shaking from the cold in his post-race interview with TVP Sport, saying “the conditions here are extreme for everyone. Some really struggled to cope on the start line.” Talking about his own performance, the 25 year old said “I had bigger aspirations for today’s race. I wanted to attack the first 15-20km. It’s a shame that it didn’t happen, but I could feel from the first kilometre that it was going to be hard. Whilst I’m happy to be in the top 30 for all of my competitions here, I feel unfulfilled from today. I wanted more.”

Speed skaters Magdalena Czyszczoń and Karolina Bosiek will be feeling that same dissatisfaction as Bury, after their participation in the women’s mass start. Both put in solid performances in their semi-final, with Bosiek qualifying in 5^th, and Czyszczoń 6^th, to make the 17-strong final.

Whilst viewers will have been used to more ordered races in the speed skating, the mass start event is more reminiscent of short track speed skating, with all the skaters on the rink battling it out at high speed at the same time over 16 laps, with the added complexion of points to be won for sprint phases. There is an allowance for more physicality among the skaters, and with that, greater jeopardy.

Unfortunately, it was Bosiek who experienced the brutality and drama that we so often see in short track speed skating, as the 22 year old crashed out on the back straight of the rink. Meanwhile, Czyszczoń gave unexpected hope with a momentary lead and some canny work to score two points from the first and third sprint phases. However the calibre of the field shone through as the 26 year old crossed the line in 13^th place.

In the men’s mass start, opening ceremony flagbearer Zbigniew Bródka and Artur Janicki were not able to get passed the semi-final stage of the competition. Bródka, who had to miss his favoured 1500m earlier in the Games due to injury, finished last in his semi-final, whilst Janicki placed 11^th.

For Bródka, Beijing 2022 ultimately left him empty handed, and whilst that my reignite talks of the flagbearer’s curse, the speed skater from Głowno can leave the rink with his head held high, showing his class to still be on the biggest stage at the age of 37. He will now hang his skates up, after these Games, for a deserved retirement.