German speed skater Claudia Pechstein has all but confirmed Beijing will be her last Winter Olympics, but she is not yet retiring despite turning 50 this coming Tuesday. She finished ninth in the mass start on Saturday as the speed skating programme wrapped up, the best result for a German female skater in Beijing. “For me, it’s like I took a farewell lap from the Olympics in Beijing,” she said, dodging further questions about her future plans. Her chances of qualifying for Milan/Cortina in 2026 would seem highly unlikely given her age. However, the fire still burns for the Berliner, who serve…