Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands attends the flower ceremony after the women's 1,000m final of short track speed skating at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Ma Ning)
BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Defending Olympic champion Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands clinched the women's 1,000 meter title in one minute and 28.391 seconds in the Capital Indoor Stadium at the Beijing Winter Olympics here on Friday.
Ealier in the quarterfinals, Schulting lowered the world record to 1:26.514 over the distance.
"I became really confident out there after skating a world record. I was really excited," she said.
This is the fifth gold medal for the Netherlands at Beijing 2022, the first four of which all from speed skating.
"For the Netherlands, it means a lot. I worked so hard for the whole team. I got the gold, but I got the gold for the whole team, and I am super proud," said the 24-year-old.
South Korean star skater Choi Min-jeong earned the silver in 1:28.443. Hanne Desmet of Belgium bagged the bronze in 1:28.928.
Five-time Olympian Arianna Fontana of Italy was penalized for causing contact in the finals.
Chinese Olympic champion Qu Chunyu and her teammates Han Yutong and Zhang Chutong failed to cruise through the heats.
Also on Friday, China's Ren Ziwei and reigning Olympic champion Wu Dajing eased to quarterfinals after winning their respective 500m heats, along with their teammate Sun Long.
In the men's 5,000m relay semifinals, the Chinese quartet of Wu, Ren, Sun and Li Wenlong advanced into the finals.
"All of us will go all out in the following races," said Wu.
The short track speed skating finals of men's 500m and women's 3,000m relay will be staged on Sunday. ■
Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands celebrates after the women's 1,000m final of short track speed skating at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Ma Ning)
Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands celebrates after the women's 1,000m final of short track speed skating at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Ma Ning)
Suzanne Schulting (front) of the Netherlands and Choi Minjeong of South Korea compete during the women's 1,000m short track speed skating final at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Suzanne Schulting (R) of the Netherlands competes during the women's 1,000m final of short track speed skating at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)
Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands competes during the women's 1,000m final of short track speed skating at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)
Suzanne Schulting (1st L) of the Netherlands competes during the women's 1,000m final of short track speed skating at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)
