Timmer Triumphant

Watching the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, I was smitten with 23-year-old Dutch speedskater Marianne Timmer, who won two gold medals for the 1000m and 1500m - setting an Olympic record in the former and a world record in the latter. She was a goddess. But sadly, after that she won only a single world title (the 1000m way back in 1999), and failed to win any medals at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. So of course no one thought she had a chance at Torino.

Until last night.

Eight years after Nagano - and five days after being tragically disqualified from the 500m due to a controversial new rule - 31-year-old Timmer stunned the world and won the 1000m by .04 of a second. It was absolutely magnificent to watch.

On Wednesday she will compete in the 1500m, her final event.