Gold for Femke Kok in 500m long-track, silver for Jutta Leerdam

Femke Kok waves the flag in celebration. Photo: Sem van der Wal ANP

Femke Kok has taken the speed skating 500 metres Olympic title in a new Olympic record of 36.69. Jutta Leerdam, who beat Kok to win gold in the 1,000 metres, took silver, while Japan’s Miho Takagi won bronze.

Kok was in the last race, against defending champion Erin Jackson of the US, and soon streaked ahead, adding a fifth gold to the Netherlands’ collection so far and the second long track win.

She is the first Dutch woman to win an Olympic medal at this distance.

Watch the race on NOS

“So many people expected I would win,” said Kok, who has not lost over the distance all season. “And I put myself under a lot of pressure as well. If you always win, then you want to win again. But everything has to be right and I know how difficult that can be.”

Dutch skaters are back on the rink on Monday with plenty of short track action and on Tuesday with the finals of the team pursuit.

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