World Championships:

Bowe Finally Wins Her Gold
Mantia wins no. 4 and 5

By Robert "Just the Factoids" Burnson
Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007

Juggling two sports has been the undoing of many a talented athlete. But USA's Brittany Bowe proved it can be done today when she won her first adult individual gold medal at the 2007 World Speed Skating Championships in Cali, Colombia.

Meanwhile, teammate Joey Mantia demonstrated the efficacy of single-minded devotion to one sport. The dedicated skater won two gold medals today to bring his total to five, which is more than any other athlete — and all but two countries — at the World Championships.

Men's 20K

Mantia won both of the men's events today: the 500 meters and the 20,000-meter elimination. In the 20,000 meters, it was clear from the start that he was determined to win. With teammate Josh Wood tucked in behind him and protecting his flanks, he lead for much of the race.

Wood was eliminated with three laps left to go. A lap later, Mantia accelerated away from the pack and went on to win comfortably with a new world record. His time was 28 minute and 50.48 seconds, which was 11 seconds faster than the old mark he set last year at the World Championships.

Men's 500 Meters

The 21-year-old resident of Olympic, WA, was just as impressive in the 500 meters. He led from the start and raised his arms in the air in victory 10 meters before the finish line.

Italy's Luca Presti, the European 500-meter champ, finished nearly a tenth of a second back to claim silver.

The win put Mantia ahead of his gold medal total of four at last year's World Championships in Anyang, South Korea.

Brittany

Brittany Bowe's gold medal came in the 500 meters. The 19-year-old from Ocala, FL, settled into third place at the start and then fell back into last place in the field of four.

In the sprint, Colombia's Jercy Puello and Jennifer Caicedo were in the lead and appeared likely to finish first and second. But with a bolt of speed, Bowe pulled up even with them on the inside. They all hawked for the line. Bowe won by inches.

It was her first individual gold medal at a world championships, although she has won three relay golds, including one Tuesday in the 3000-meter relay.

Teammates

Bowe and Mantia had a lot in common a few years ago. They were members of the same team (Team Florida) and trained by the same coach (Renee Hildebrand). They were also both stars as juniors at the world championships, winning numerous medals.

But after Hildebrand left Team Florida and Bowe went off to play college basketball, their paths diverged. Mantia's star kept rising while Bowe's seemed to stall.

On the other hand, Bowe has found a kind of success that inline speed skating doesn't offer in the United States. As a reserve point guard for Florida Atlantic University, she gets to attend college on a full scholarship.

Tonight, after Mantia won his gold medal, the two U.S. stars were together again, skating a victory lap around the track in Cali.

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