This is not the kind of accomplishment that sends the average American sports fan running into the street waving his flag, but then the average American sports fan doesn't pay much attention to speedskating except during the Olympics. If he did, he'd know that the U.S. skaters are doing very well, indeed, in distances they're not known to dominate except when Bonnie Blair is skating. Boutiette had no illusions about keeping the Olympic record he claimed with four pairs to go, but he thought it was nice while it lasted. That's great for me, someone who hasn't been skating that long. I've got the pressure of the U.S. team on my back.
Fifth place is pretty damn good.
For a man who could only watch while the balance of the field was eating his lunch, Boutiette was remarkably calm. I'm a good loser. I'm a great loser. I can lose and not even be bitter about it. Five years ago, if you had asked me what I'd be doing right now, I would have told you probably digging ditches.