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Liiv's World Cup Podium Lifts Estonian Olympic Medal Hopes
Estonian speed skater Marten Liiv secured his second career World Cup podium with a third-place finish in the 500-meter race at the final pre-Olympic event in Inzell, Germany, prompting his coach to elevate expectations for the Milan Cortina Games.
- —Speed skater Marten Liiv achieved his second career World Cup podium with a third-place finish in the 500-meter race at the final World Cup event in Inzell, Germany.
- —Liiv concluded the World Cup season ranked sixth overall in both the 500-meter and 1000-meter distances.
- —His coach, Mart Markus, expressed increased expectations for Liiv at the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics, citing improvements in his 500-meter speed and overall consistency.
- —Regina Ermits, a biathlete, finished 19th in her World Cup event in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, and her Olympic qualification for the mass start event remains uncertain.
- —Cross-country skier Alvar Johannes Alev achieved his second-best career World Cup result with a 17th-place finish in Goms, Switzerland.
Recap
Marten Liiv's consistent World Cup season, capped by a podium finish, has transitioned him from a competitor to a credible Olympic medal threat for Estonia. His success is not a matter of chance but of improved speed, yet his ultimate Olympic outcome now hinges on correcting a specific, identified weakness in his 1000-meter endurance during the final weeks of preparation.