Speed skating at the 1928 Winter Olympics – Men's 10,000 metres

The 10,000 metres speed skating event was part of the speed skating at the 1928 Winter Olympics programme. The competition was held on Tuesday, February 14, 1928.

Men's 10,000 metres speed skating
at the II Olympic Winter Games
Refer to caption
Pictogram for speed skating
VenueSt. Moritz Olympic Ice Rink
Date14 February 1928
Competitors10 from 6 nations
← 1924
1932 →

In this event, Irving Jaffee was leading the competition, having outskated Norwegian defending world champion Bernt Evensen on the finish line in their heat, when rising temperatures thawed the ice.[1] In a controversial ruling, the Norwegian referee canceled the entire competition. Although the International Olympic Committee reversed the referee's decision and awarded Jaffee the gold medal, the International Skating Union later overruled the IOC and restored the ruling.[2] Jaffee should have received the gold medal, according to Evensen, but it never occurred.[3]

Medalists

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No medals were awarded as the competition was abandoned.

Records

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These were the standing world and Olympic records (in minutes) prior to the 1928 Winter Olympics.

World Record 17:17.4(*)   Armand Carlsen Davos (SUI) February 5, 1928
Olympic Record 18:04.8   Julius Skutnabb Chamonix (FRA) January 27, 1924

(*) The record was set in a high altitude venue (more than 1000 metres above sea level) and on naturally frozen ice.

Results

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Heats

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Heat 1

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In an exciting race, Evensen led throughout, but by no more than three seconds: Jaffee caught him on the finish line to win by six inches.

Place Name Time
1   Irving Jaffee (USA) 18:36.5
2   Bernt Evensen (NOR) 18:36.6

Heat 2

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In a mostly back-and-forth contest, Bulota had a lead of 6.5 seconds at 8400 meters, with Riedl ultimately catching him on the final lap to win by six yards, as puddles of water set in on the ice.

Place Name Time
1   Rudolf Riedl (AUT) 20:21.5
2   Kęstutis Bulota (LTU) 20:22.2

Heat 3

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After 3200 meters, co-favorite Larsen lost contact with Polacsek: he ultimately retired when his split times were 35 seconds behind Jaffee and Evensen, giving Polacsek the win.

Place Name Time
1   Otto Polacsek (AUT) 20:00.9
  Roald Larsen (NOR) DNF

Heat 4

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Bialas and Carlsen were close for 4000 metres, when Carlsen pulled away: he went on to win by 80 yards.

Place Name Time
1   Armand Carlsen (NOR) 20:56.1
2   Valentine Bialas (USA) 21:05.4

Heat 5

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This heat was between   Gustaf Andersson (SWE) and   Ossi Blomqvist (FIN).

The thawing ice saw both Andersson and Blomqvist complete the first lap in 55 seconds, far slower than the other competitors: when they passed 2000 meters in 4:21, 30 seconds slower than Carlsen and Bialas in the previous heat, the heat was abandoned.

Standings after four heats

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Place Speed skater Time
1   Irving Jaffee (USA) 18:36.5
2   Bernt Evensen (NOR) 18:36.6
3   Otto Polacsek (AUT) 20:00.9
4   Rudolf Riedl (AUT) 20:21.5
5   Kęstutis Bulota (LTU) 20:22.2
6   Armand Carlsen (NOR) 20:56.1
7   Valentine Bialas (USA) 21:05.4
  Roald Larsen (NOR) DNF

References

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  1. ^ The Big Book of Jewish Sports Heroes: An Illustrated Compendium of Sports History and The 150 Greatest Jewish Sports Stars. 2007. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  2. ^ The International Jewish Sports Hall ... September 15, 1906. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  3. ^ Mitchell, Kevin. "The unforgettable Olympic speed skating race of 1928: Irving Jaffee's happy, sad gold-medal story". nationalpost.com. Retrieved 25 October 2023.