Winter Olympics 2022: Irene Scouten gives Dutch 1st speedskating gold

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Irene Scouten gave the mighty Dutch a gold medal in the first speedskating event of the Beijing Games, breaking a 20-year-old Olympic record in the women's 3,000 meters Saturday.

Skating in the last of 10 pairs, Schouten turned in a blazing final lap to post the winning time of 3 minutes, 56.93 seconds.

That broke the previous Olympic mark of 3:57.70, set by Germany's Claudia Pechstein at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

In a fitting bookend to the event, Pechstein skated in the opening pair to become the oldest female athlete in Olympic history at 49. The German finished last — more than 20 seconds behind the winner.

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Irene Schouten of the Netherlands reacts after winning the gold medal and breaking the Olympic record in the women's speedskating 3,000-meter race at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Italy's Francesca Lollobrigida, pushing Schouten all the way in the final pair, held on for the silver in 3:58.06. The three-time Olympian is the great-niece of 94-year-old actress Gina Lollobrigida, who was an international star in the 1950s and '60s.

The bronze went to Canada's Isabelle Weidemann in 3:58.64.

Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic, the winner of six Olympic medals including three golds, held the top spot with two pairs to go but failed to make the podium. She wound up fourth in 4:00.34.

Defending champion Carlijn Achtereekte of the Netherlands crossed the line in 4:02.21 — exactly 3 seconds off her gold medal-winning time from four years ago.

She finished seventh this time, one spot ahead of the third Dutch skater, Antoinette de Jong.

The Dutch