Short track star Xandra Velzeboer conquers gold at the 500 meter World Cup in Beijing | Sport

Xandra Velzeboer took gold in the second 500 meters at the short track world cup competitions in Beijing. The reigning world champion in the 500 and 1000 meters prevented her compatriot Selma Poutsma from winning her first World Cup gold. The bronze went to home rider Fan Kexin.

Michelle Velzeboer, the third Dutchwoman in the final, had a near fall in the first round and did not get further than fourth place. Two 500 meters were held in Beijing this weekend. The first was won on Saturday by the American Kristen Santos-Griswold. Yara van Kerkhof finished fifth in that final.

Xandra Velzeboer, who already won bronze in the 1500 meters on Saturday, already won gold in the 500 meters in Montreal earlier this season. Jens van ‘t Wout was successful there in the 1000 meters. In Beijing he was lucky in the semi-finals. Together with the South Korean Jang Sungwoo, Van ‘t Wout finished third equal, with a faster time than the number 3 in the other semi-final. Both were therefore allowed to advance to the final battle. In the final he crashed while driving and was left in fifth place. Kay Huisman finished second in the B final on the 500 meters.

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