Winter Olympics 2022 - Records tumble as Dutch speed skater Kjeld Nuis retains 1500m title in Beijing

Dutch speed skater Kjeld Nuis produced the best ever WInter Olympics performance in the 1500m to retain his title ahead of team-mate Thomas Krol in Beijing. Nuis set a new Olympic record time of 1:32.21 to secure the third Games gold of his career, immediately after Krol had broken an Olympic record which had stood for 20 years.

Bronze went to South Korea's Minseok Kim. Ad/> Cornelius Kersten, the first British man to compete in Olympic speed skating in three decades, finished 19th after fading on the final lap.

Beijing 2022'This is unbelievable, isn't it?' — Wust delighted after historic gold medalYESTERDAY AT 12:08 The competition really got going when the second half of skaters took the ice, and Dutchman Krol made himself the man to beat when he broke an Olympic record set at Salt Lake City 2002 with a mark of 1:43.55. But it was a case of 'anything you can do, I can do better' from Nuis, who edged ahead by 0.34 seconds.

It is a mark of how far the sport has come in 20 years, given Salt Lake City is at altitude — and the place where Nuis set the world record three years ago with a time roughly three seconds quicker. /> The victory was a bit of revenge for Nuis, who was beaten by Krol at the World Championships in Heerenveen last year, and he celebrated emphatically with his coaches inside the rink.

Nuis will look to secure the double when he defends his 1000m title next Friday. Beijing 2022 Olympic Games: Schedule, big names, key events and more GB skater Kersten's journey from brink of retirement to Beijing ‘Athlete life can be lonely, we’re really lucky’ — Kersten and Smeding are teammates on and off ice — — - Watch every moment of Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on discovery+ Beijing 2022'This medal is for you' —