Why this Dutch speed skating gold medalist quit his nation's pursuit team

Because it wouldn't be a Dutch athletic team without a measure of in-fighting rooted in arrogance, 10,000m gold medalist and Olympic record holder Jorrit Bergsma has quit the pursuit team on the very day it races for gold because he was only considered an alternate.

Bergsma told a Dutch television station that he was tired of being counted on “only in emergencies” while teammates Sven Kramer, Koen Verweij, and Jan Blokhuijsen got to race in the first team.

The three teammates combined to make their way into the finals in dominating fashion. They'll race against Korea for the gold medal later on Saturday. The Netherlands is guaranteed to leave Sochi with a total of 22 speed skating medals from 12 events.