TURIN, Italy, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Ireen Wust of the Netherlands surprised her more seasoned colleagues Sunday to win the women's Olympic 3,000-meter speed skating race.
Some of the best skaters the sport has to offer had yet to compete when Wust posted her time of 4:02.43. But that time held up to make an Olympic champion out of a woman who turns 20 April 1.
The silver and bronze medals went to the same skaters who won those medals in Salt Lake City. Renate Goenewold of the Netherlands was second in 4:03.48 and world record holder Cindy Klassen was third in 4:04.37.
The fourth-place skater from Salt Lake City also finished fourth this time -- Anni Friesinger of Germany.
Another of the veterans who could not match Wust was Claudia Pechstein of Germany, who has won seven Olympic medals. Pechstein finished third in 1994, second in 1998 and first in 2002. She settled for fifth place Sunday.
Klassen had the fastest time at the first four of eight check points, but slowed during the second half of the race.
