KEARNS — With four laps to go, Derek Parra could hear the crowd chanting, "USA! USA!"
He was on the verge of doing something no one had expected — breaking the world record in long-track speedskating's 5,000 meters, an event normally dominated by Dutch skaters. To say Parra came out of nowhere on Saturday would be an understatement. He considers the 1,500 meters his best event. He was ranked only 15th in the world in the 5,000 meters, an event Americans are expected to enter but politely concede to others. But not this time.
"I heard them chanting 'USA!' and I wanted to go harder and harder," he said. "But I had to be careful not to lose control."
He didn't. In the end, Parra broke the world record with a time of 6:17.98. However, a few minutes later that record was shattered and turned to silver by Dutch skater Jochem Uytdehaage, who skated the distance in 6:14.66 and won the gold. Germany's Jens Boden won the bronze with a time of 6:21.73.
Still, it was a momentous achievement for Parra, the first Mexican-American ever to medal in a Winter Olympics.
He could describe it only as "an incredible feeling." Parra has struggled with his emotions of late. His wife, Tiffany, gave birth to the couple's first child, a girl, in December. But Tiffany lives in Orlando, and Parra has been training in Utah and working at Home Depot to make ends meet.
He traveled to Florida for the delivery, but the strain of travel and emotions made it difficult for him to concentrate during the Olympic trials in December. He ended up missing the chance to compete in the 1,000 meters, qualifying only in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters.
Yet the sacrifice paid off in ways few had expected. "I think this is a good confidence builder," he said when asked how his unexpected silver medal would help him prepare for the 1,500 meters.
Given the fact that the old record, 6:18.72, had stood for more than two years, the times Uytdehaage and Parra posted were astounding. They served early notice that the Utah Olympic Oval was going to live up to its reputation as the fastest ice on earth.
Still, the ice was just as fast for the other skaters as it was for Uytdehaage and Parra, but none others could come close to their times.
The Dutch skater was expected to do well. He is the 2002 European Allround champion.
He shed tears as he skated a victory lap. "It was amazing, in such an event," he saidafterward. "Why shouldn't I cry?"
Uytdehaage, competing in his first Olympics, acknowledged that his life now would never be the same, especially in Holland, a nation crazy about its speedskaters.
Plenty of Dutch fans were on hand Saturday, dressed in colorful orange costumes and waving their flags. Still, they were outnumbered by the Americans, who found they had more to cheer for than expected.
KC Boutiette, an American who has been hampered by a nagging back injury since August, also surprised many experts by finishing fifth, with a time of 6:22.97.
Dutch fans had to be disappointed in the performance of some of their strongest skaters. Gianni Romme, the former world record holder, barely missed qualifying for the event despite having the best times in World Cup competition. Bob de Jong, considered a strong contender (he finished fourth in Nagano), came in 30th with a time of 6:43.97.
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