Femke Kok has secured a historic Olympic title by winning the 500 meter speed skating event with a record time in Milan.
NOS, Netherlands reports.
Femke Kok lived up to her status as the favorite by claiming the Olympic gold medal in the 500 meter speed skating race, setting an Olympic record time of 36.49 seconds in Milan. She finished ahead of Jutta Leerdam and Miho Takagi, becoming the first Dutch woman to win Olympic gold in the shortest sprint distance.
This victory marks Kok’s first Olympic gold medal; she had already earned recognition as the reigning world champion and had remained unbeaten for two years in the 500 meter event, winning 23 consecutive races. In the final race of the day, Kok faced the defending Olympic champion Erin Jackson and edged ahead early with a 10.18 second opening, eventually pulling away in the last bend to secure her lead until the finish line. She finished 0.66 seconds faster than Leerdam.
Leerdam, who had recently won Olympic gold in the 1,000 meter event, posted the second-best time of 37.15 seconds. Another Dutch competitor, Anna Boersma, finished 15th with a time of 38.01 seconds. Kok’s gold is her second medal at these Winter Games, adding to the silver she won in the 1,000 meter race.
These medals for Kok and Leerdam represent the tenth and eleventh medals for the Netherlands during the Olympic skating competition held in Italy.
