Femke Kok secured a historic victory by winning the Olympic gold medal in the 500 meter speed skating event, setting a new Olympic record with a time of 36.49 seconds in Milan.
NOS Schaatsen, published in the Netherlands, reports on Kok’s achievement.
Kok became the first Dutch woman ever to win the Olympic gold medal in the shortest sprint distance of speed skating. The 25-year-old, widely anticipated to win the event, had already been the reigning world champion and undefeated in the 500 meter distance for two years, winning 23 consecutive races prior to the Olympics.
In the final race of the day, Kok faced the defending Olympic champion Erin Jackson, ultimately winning with a substantial margin. Kok opened the race with her personal best split of 10.18 seconds, ultimately finishing 0.66 seconds ahead of fellow Dutch skater Jutta Leerdam, who took silver with a time of 37.15 seconds. Miho Takagi from Japan earned bronze with a time of 37.27 seconds.
This gold medal is Kok’s first Olympic medal, adding to the silver she won earlier in the 1,000 meter event. Leerdam also secured her second medal of the Games, after her gold in the 1,000 meters. Anna Boersma, the third Dutch competitor in the 500 meters, finished fifteenth with a time of 38.01 seconds.
The medals won by Kok and Leerdam represent the tenth and eleventh medals for the Netherlands at these Winter Olympics in Italy. Kok reflected on the pressure leading up to the race, acknowledging that expectations were high but focusing on performing as she always does.
Until this event, only Margot Boer had medaled for the Netherlands in the 500 meter speed skating discipline, earning bronze at the 2014 Sochi Games. Kok’s victory marks a significant milestone in Dutch speed skating history.
The Olympic speed skating competition will continue with the team pursuit event on Tuesday, while Leerdam and Boersma conclude their participation in these Games. Kok is scheduled to compete again on Friday in the 1,500 meters.
