Sweden’s Nils van der Poel has won gold in men’s 10,000 metres speed skating event in a new world record time of 12.30,74, beating the Netherlands’ Patrick Roest into Olympic silver position by almost 14 seconds.

The bronze went to Italy’s Davide Ghiotto while defending Olympic champion Jorrit Bergsma was fourth.

Van der Poel, who takes his surname from a Dutch grandfather, was favourite for the gold and had also taken the world title in a world record time a year ago.

Poels, who also beat Roest in the 5,000 metres, hit the headlines earlier this week when he accused Dutch skating officials of ‘corruption’.

He made the statement when asked about a Dutch language interview with a Dutch ice official who said he tried to influence the Olympic track ice makers to reduce the temperature of the ice, which would benefit Dutch skaters.

Dutch technical director Maurits Hendriks reportedly called van der Poel’s comments ‘unworthy of an Olympic champion’.

‘There is only one person who has influence on the temperature of the ice and that is the ISU,’ he said.

The Dutch short track skaters are in action later in the day.