2006年VOA标准英语-Italian Speed Skater Bests Americans

By Parke Brewer¹
Turin
21 February 2006

The United States domination in men's long track speed skating events at the Turin Winter Olympics has ended, as an Italian has won the 1,500 meters Tuesday evening. 
 

Enrico Fabris  
  
American skaters had won the gold medals in the 500, 1,000 and 5,000 meters and had two top contenders in the 1,500 meters.

But perhaps getting some extra energy from the boisterous² home crowd, Italian Enrico Fabris skated the fastest to win the gold medal. His time of 1:45.97 was 0.16 second better than American Shani Davis, who had won the gold in the 1,000 meters. American Chad Hedrick, the gold medalist in the 5,000 meters, took the bronze medal in the 1,500, one quarter of a second off the pace.

Fabris skated his race before four other pairs, and he said he was not sure his time would be good enough to win.

"I was sure that I skated a great race, but I knew that champions like Shani Davis and Chad had to skate, and so it was a long wait for me and I have no words to describe the emotions I felt in the last pairs," said Enrico Fabris.

Shani Davis  
  
The silver medalist Shani Davis had nothing but praise for the pressure-filled performance by Fabris before his countrymen.

"I think Fabris did an excellent job," said Shani Davis. "What could be more rewarding than winning a 1,500-meter race that you weren't quite really favored in, in your home country and at the Olympics. That's something that's really big."

Davis had already done something really big at these Olympics. By winning the earlier 1,000 meters, he became the first black to win an individual gold medal at a Winter Games.
 

Chad Hedrick  
  
As for bronze medalist Chad Hedrick, he was a bit stunned³ by the results.

"With the past history that Shani and I have in the 1,500 meters, we're two tough guys to beat, so congratulations to Enrico," said Chad Hedrick. "He skated great. But that was very unexpected⁴. I told everybody it's the first time I've ever seen Shani and I on the podium in second and third, and I'm sure it won't happen many more times."

The final men's long track speed skating event is the longest one, the 10,000 meters, and it will be held here Friday.

1 brewer   

n. 啤酒制造者

参考例句：

• Brewer is a very interesting man. 布鲁尔是一个很有趣的人。
• I decided to quit my job to become a brewer. 我决定辞职，做一名酿酒人。

2 boisterous   

adj.喧闹的，欢闹的

参考例句：

• I don't condescend to boisterous displays of it.我并不屈就于它热热闹闹的外表。
• The children tended to gather together quietly for a while before they broke into boisterous play.孩子们经常是先静静地聚集在一起，不一会就开始吵吵嚷嚷戏耍开了。

3 stunned   

adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
• The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。

4 unexpected   

adj.想不到的，意外的

参考例句：

• I always keep some good wine in for unexpected guests.我总保存些好酒，用来招待不速之客。
• His promotion was unexpected.他的升迁出人意料。