Roared on all the way, host nation Italy seized speedskating men's pursuit Olympic gold yesterday with a stunning victory over Canada in the final. The Italian men's trio, which included Enrico Fabris, 5,000 metres individual bronze medallist on day one at the Games, made all the running and had 2.82 seconds to spare at the finish. Fabris, whose family and friends leapt over the barrier to hug him after he won, said Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had called to congratulate him. "Berlusconi asked me: 'How fast were you going?' I replied. 50-60 kph. And he did not believe it," Fabris, beaming, said while signing autographs. Italy managed to dispose of the Netherlands in the semis when the Dutch took a tumble and had beaten favourites the United States in Wednesday's quarter-finals. The Netherlands beat Norway in the race for the bronze medal. Italy's Fabris, Matteo Anesi and Ippolito Sanfratello had too much power in the final for the Canadian trio of Steven Elm, Arne Dankers and Justin Warsylewicz, crossing the line in 3:44.46.

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