Marten Liiv, Estonia's top speed skater, is preparing for his next Olympic challenge in the 1500m event in Milan Cortina, scheduled to start at 5:30 PM. After traveling to Italy with high expectations, Liiv faced a setback as he finished 14th in the 1000m and 18th in the 500m, both of which are his primary distances. He acknowledged feeling physically off during the races compared to his performance three weeks ago, indicating that perhaps he was too well-rested before the competitions.

In his post-race comments, Liiv expressed disappointment in his performance despite podium finishes in recent competitive events, including a 500m World Cup stage two weeks ago. His coach, Erwin ten Howe, stated that they would need to analyze the data to understand what went wrong, indicating a need for further evaluation to improve future performances. Liiv’s struggles in the earlier events might affect his momentum going into the next race, creating a pressure-filled situation for the athlete.

Although the 1500m is considered Liiv's weakest distance, he is determined not to withdraw from the Olympic start. He is coming off two attempts earlier this year in the United States and Canada, where he placed 15th and 10th in his respective races. As the Olympic competition progresses, it remains to be seen how he will fare and whether he can leverage his experience for a better outcome in this less favorable event for him.