GANGNEUNG -- Despite breaking his own national record in the men's 10,000 meters, speedskater Ryosuke Tsuchiya expressed regret after finishing 10th in the race at the Pyeongchang Olympics on Thursday.
After clocking 36.05 seconds in the first 400 meters at the Gangneung Oval, the 23-year-old kept his laps in the 31-second range throughout the race to finish at 13 minutes 10.31 seconds -- shaving his previous national record by 1.57 seconds.
However, Tsuchiya also had to face up to the distance between him and the top skaters. Canadian Ted-Jan Bloemen won the gold medal with 12:39.77 -- a new Olympic record -- completing three of the last four laps in under 30 seconds.
"It's shameful for me," Tsuchiya said of his new national record. "I failed to be more aggressive."
Tsuchiya made his Olympic debut in Sunday's 5,000 meters, finishing 16th.
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