Medals update: Suzanne Schulting wins gold by a blade in Beijing 2022 short track speed skating 1000m final

The Netherlands' Suzanne Schulting has defended her Olympic short track 1000m crown in a thrilling race at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing 2022 on Friday (11 February).

The Dutch skater set a time of 1:28.39 to take gold, fending off a late challenge from Republic of Korea's Choi Minjeong to win by the length of an outstretched blade.

Choi will content herself with a silver medal after setting an impressive time of 1:28.443. Belgium's Hanne Desmet came third to win the bronze medal.

Earlier in the day, Schulting had set a new world record in the quarterfinals of the competition, posting a breathtaking time of 1:26.514. However, having also registered an Olympic record in the heats of the 500m before losing to gold medallist Arianna Fontana in the final, there was no guarantee that her phenomenal speed would translate into gold.

Italy's Fontana, a 10-time Olympic medallist, fell in the final and missed out on the chance to improve her record as the most decorated Olympic short track athlete in history.

But the 24-year-old Schulting would not be denied a second 1000m victory in as many Games as she held her nerve to win by the finest of margins.

More to follow...