Graeme Fish of Canada celebrates after setting a world record in the men's 10,000 meters during the ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S., February 14, 2020. /VCG Photo
Graeme Fish of Canada set a new world record in the men's 10,000 meters race at the ISU World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships on Friday in Kearns, Utah, United States.
The Canadian speed skater smashed the existing world record while winning the event with his race timing of 12 minutes and 33.868 seconds. Fish, who won a bronze medal in Thursday's 5,000m, shattered the previous mark of 12:36.30 set by his compatriot Te-Jan Bloemen on November 21, 2015, in Salt Lake City.
Bloemen, who claimed the men's 5,000m title on Thursday, bagged a silver to add to his current collection as he crossed the line in 12:45.010. The bronze medal went to Patrick Beckert of Germany.
Meanwhile, 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic champion Nao Kodaira warded off a strong challenge from Russian opponents to clinch gold in the women's 500m. Kokaira's victory came with the winning time of 36.692 seconds while Angelina Golikova and Olga Fatkulina, who were 0.04 and 0.09 seconds behind, grabbed the silver and bronze respectively.
(L-R) Angelina Golikova of Russia, Nao Kodaira of Japan and Olga Fatkulina of Russia pose after the ladies' 500 meters finals during the ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S., February 14, 2020. /VCG Photo
However, it was a one-two finish for Russia in the men's 500m as Pavel Kulizhnikov bagged the coveted gold medal. The 25-year-old world record holder clocked 33.727 seconds for the top podium finish and edged past his compatriot Ruslan Murashov by 0.26 seconds. Shinhama Tatsuya of Japan outpaced Viktor Mushtakov to settle for the bronze in 34.035 and deny a medal sweep of Russian skaters.
The women's team pursuit title went to Japan as the Asian winter sports giants outclassed the Netherlands and Canada.