The Dutch have added three medals to their Olympic tally, with two golds and a silver in Thursday’s speed skating.

Xandra Velzeboer and Jens van ’t Wout both won Olympic gold in Milan, claiming the 500 metres and 1,000 metres short track titles respectively.

Velzeboer, 24, powered to victory in the 500 metres final. “This is the happiest day of my life, it’s just bizarre,” she said after the race. “I still can’t quite believe it.”

Van ’t Wout was equally elated after taking gold in the 1,000 metres. “I don’t fully realise it yet,” he said.

Both skaters had endured disappointment two days earlier in the mixed relay semi-finals. Van ’t Wout was involved in a poor exchange that cost the team ground, while Velzeboer fell, ending Dutch hopes of reaching the final.

In the long-track events, Merel Conijn missed out on gold in the 5,000 metres by just 0.1 of a second, with Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida taking the top spot. Norway’s Ragne Wiklund took the bronze, just 0.07 of a second behind Conijn.

The Netherlands are now ninth in the medals table, with three gold and three silver.