By Parke Brewer
Turin
21 February 2006

The United States domination in men's long track speed skating events at the Turin Winter Olympics has ended, as an Italian has won the 1,500 meters Tuesday evening.  
 

Enrico Fabris

American skaters had won the gold medals in the 500, 1,000 and 5,000 meters and had two top contenders in the 1,500 meters.

But perhaps getting some extra energy from the boisterous home crowd, Italian Enrico Fabris skated the fastest to win the gold medal. His time of 1:45.97 was 0.16 second better than American Shani Davis, who had won the gold in the 1,000 meters. American Chad Hedrick, the gold medalist in the 5,000 meters, took the bronze medal in the 1,500, one quarter of a second off the pace.

Fabris skated his race before four other pairs, and he said he was not sure his time would be good enough to win.

"I was sure that I skated a great race, but I knew that champions like Shani Davis and Chad had to skate, and so it was a long wait for me and I have no words to describe the emotions I felt in the last pairs," said Enrico Fabris. 

Shani Davis

The silver medalist Shani Davis had nothing but praise for the pressure-filled performance by Fabris before his countrymen.

"I think Fabris did an excellent job," said Shani Davis. "What could be more rewarding than winning a 1,500-meter race that you weren't quite really favored in, in your home country and at the Olympics. That's something that's really big."

Davis had already done something really big at these Olympics. By winning the earlier 1,000 meters, he became the first black to win an individual gold medal at a Winter Games. 
 

Chad Hedrick

As for bronze medalist Chad Hedrick, he was a bit stunned by the results.

"With the past history that Shani and I have in the 1,500 meters, we're two tough guys to beat, so congratulations to Enrico," said Chad Hedrick. "He skated great. But that was very unexpected. I told everybody it's the first time I've ever seen Shani and I on the podium in second and third, and I'm sure it won't happen many more times."

The final men's long track speed skating event is the longest one, the 10,000 meters, and it will be held here Friday.