Dutch speed skater Irene Schouten has perfected the Olympic gold double in Beijing five days after her triumph over 3000 m.
On Thursday, the 29-year-old won the longest individual distance for women over 5000 m in 6:43.51 minutes. The Canadian Isabelle Weidemann (6:48.18), who finished third in the 3000 m, secured silver.
Bronze went to the Czech Martina Sablikova in 6:50.09 minutes, for whom it was the fourth Olympic medal on this distance after gold in 2010 and 2014 and silver in 2018. Overall, it’s her seventh podium finish since 2010.
The five-time Olympic champion Claudia Pechstein did not qualify on her special course. The 49-year-old from Berlin also lost her 20-year-old Olympic record (6:46.91) to Schouten in her absence.