Double celebration for Denis Nikisha after memorable home World Cup triumph in Almaty, Kazakhstan
BySportsbeat
Updated 18/12/2022 at 22:39 GMT
It's not often that winning a World Cup title on home soil is only the second most memorable part of your day, but that's exactly what happened to Denis Nikisha on Sunday. After claiming a first win since the 2016/17 season, Nikisha proposed to his girlfriend and received a positive response, leaving him to label it "the best day of my life".
Speed Skating Almaty - Short Track - Italian falls with netherland
Image credit: Eurosport
Denis Nikisha hailed the 'best day' of his life after getting engaged just moments after a stunning World Cup victory on home ice at the short track meet in Almaty.
The 27-year-old Kazakh hadn't won a World Cup meet since the 2016/17 season, though bagged a bronze in the first 500m competition of the weekend and also won silver on the same track a week ago.
And, after he took the lead with two laps to go in the second men's 500m race of the weekend in Kazakhstan's largest city, it proved to be a double celebration for him.
"This is the best day of my life," said Nikisha after he had presented an engagement ring to his wife-to-be. "When I woke up this morning there were only two words on my mind: 'gold' and 'yes'.
"I made this plan a month ago already. Even if I wouldn't have made the podium in this race, I'd have asked her to marry me. My dream has come true."
Behind the Kazakh, Jang Sungwoo finished in second to take home silver, while bronze went the way of Stijn Desmet.
Elsewhere, Park Ji Won continued his superb recent form with a third win of the weekend in the men's 1000m.
The Korean timed his race perfectly, taking the lead just before the final corner to claim gold ahead of silver medallist Steven Dubois and bronze medallist Roberts Kruzbergs.
Victory for the Korean extends his lead in the overall standings, with his compatriot Hong Kyung Hwan in second and Dubois moving up to third.
Meanwhile, there was Dutch dominance in the women's events on Sunday as Yara van Kerkhof won the first senior gold of her career in a dramatic 500m final.
The 32-year-old prevailed in a race that saw three restarts, crossing the line first after a major crash wiped out the rest of the field in the closing stages.
Her compatriot Michelle Velzeboer managed to claw her way over the line to finish in second place, with Hungary's Petra Jaszapati taking the bronze medal.
"It still feels a bit strange," said van Kerkhof. "I'm not the strongest up front and it was new for me to simply be in the lead all the time.
"I tried not to think about the outcome of the race and instead focused on what I had to do. That worked out pretty well.
"I'm really enjoying this moment. It's also so nice to be on the podium together with Michelle, who really deserved to be rewarded for all her hard work. Her skating has been incredible this weekend."
Elsewhere, Suzanne Schulting was in charge once again with victory over 1000m in Almaty.
It was a dominant display from the Dutchwoman, who led from the start and was in cruise control as she eased to a commanding victory.
America's Kristen Santos-Griswold came home in second place, while Germany's Anna Seidel took bronze.
Schulting said: "I feel relieved, and happy as well. It's been a long two weeks. I wasn't feeling well last week and had to do a lot of races, so I'm glad it's over now."
Schulting holds a commanding lead at the top of the Crystal Globe standings, with Courtney Sarault in second and Kim Gilli in third.
In the relay events, Canada claimed gold in the men's 5000m relay while South Korea won the women's 3000m race.
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