BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Miho Takagi of Japan added a gold to her threefold Beijing silverware as she broke the Olympic record to win the women's 1,000m speed skating competition here on Thursday.
The 27-year-old clocked a winning time of one minute 13.19 seconds, lowering the previous Olympic record of 1:13.56 set by Jorien ter Mors at PyeongChang 2018.
Earlier, the Japanese skater has won silver in the 1,500m, the 500m as well as the team pursuit where her teammate and older sister Nana slipped in the last corner of the final race.
"I was struggling with my previous races, so I was just like 'Yay' (laughs). That was how I felt," the younger Takagi said. "I wasn't able to accept any kind of pressure from outside. All I was thinking about was to finish the race and start really well."
Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands seized the silver in 1:13.83, while world record holder Brittany Bowe of the United States finished third in 1:14.61.
"I got off to a great start, but my lap speed just hasn't been there," 33-year-old Bowe said. "I was going for gold, but I'm proud of the performance."
Speed skating legend Ireen Wust of the Netherlands ranked sixth with 1:15.11.
"I've got mixed feelings. It was my last Olympic race. I thought the podium was possible but it is what it is," said the 35-year-old, who had notched a gold and a bronze at the Games to become the most decorated Olympic speed skater of all time with 13 medals in all.
China's Li Qishi, Yin Qi and Jin Jingzhu finished 14th, 15th and 22nd respectively.
The men's 1,000m is scheduled for Friday. Enditem
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