Krol in pole to maintain Dutch dominance

Dutch speed skater Thomas Krol will be feeling the pressure as he races to claim the top title for the men's 1,000 meters at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Friday, in hopes of adding another medal to the nine the Netherlands has won so far.

The 29-year-old has the season's best time of 1 minute 6.44 seconds and tops the World Cup rankings.

He beat compatriot and previous Olympic champion Kjeld Nuis in the Dutch qualifiers to earn his spot to stand at the start line of the 1,000m.

However, he finished behind Nuis in the 1,500m, having to settle for taking home a silver despite setting an Olympic record during his race.

"I did the best I could. I couldn't have gone faster. So I'll just have to admit defeat," Krol told reporters at the National Speed Skating Oval after his race.

Despite the silver, he remained upbeat about his 1,000m race.

"Today's result really gives me confidence for gold in the 1,000m. My dream is to be an Olympic champion and I will do everything I can to achieve that in the 1,000m," the first-time Olympian added.

Ning Zhongyan of China will attempt to stop Krol's claim to gold.

Having posted the second-best time this season, two tenths of a second behind Krol at 1:06.65, all Ning may need is home-ice advantage to tip the scales in his favor.

Still, the 22-year-old finished far behind rivals Krol and Nuis in the 1,500m in seventh place.

"I am not convinced by my result today," the 22-year-old Ning said after the race.

"I have to adjust my mentality for a better performance in the men's 1,000m and men's mass start."

World-record holder Pavel Kulizhnikov will also be racing, but he has not been able to replicate the success of skating the 1,000m in his record 1:05.69.His best time this season is 1:07.00.

AGENCIES VIA XINHUA