Dutch skater Femke Kok won the women's 500m Sunday, securing the Netherlands's first Olympic gold in the distance. Her final time of 36.49 seconds eclipsed the Olympic record (36.94), shattered her own sea-level record (36.87), and extended her two-year, 20-race undefeated streak.

Teammate Jutta Leerdam crossed the finish line 0.66 seconds behind her for 2nd, marking the largest margin of victory in the event since 1972.

The Dutch duo also went 1-2 in the 1000m Feb. 19, though in that race, Leerdam finished ahead of Kok. 

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The three-time reigning world champion in the distance, Kok opened the 2025-26 season by clipping 0.27 seconds off the previous world record, which had remained untouched since 2013. She last lost a 500m was Feb. 3, 2024, when she grabbed World Cup silver behind South Korea's Kim Min-Sun. Her staggering run began the next day.

Those accolades added an enormous amount of pressure to her second Olympic appearance, she said. Entering Sunday's race, she hoped she could live up to the expectations.

"This really is a relief. I'm so proud I made it happen," Kok said. "This is what I dreamed about as a little girl, and that it happens today is so special."

The Netherlands, historically the most dominant speed skating nation, have now claimed eight speed skating medals at these Games, more than twice as many as any other nation. Norway and Italy each have three, and the United States owns two (both earned by Jordan Stolz).

Japan's Miho Takagi, who took bronze behind Leerdam and Kok in the 1000m, rounded out the podium.

Takagi, 31, is a middle distance legend who has owned the 1500m world record since 2019. With six Olympic medals ahead of the 2026 Games, she already stood as Japan's most decorated Winter Olympian. 

If Takagi climbs the podium in the team pursuit (Feb. 17) and the 1500m (Feb. 20), she'll become just the second speed skater to earn 10 Olympic medals. The first is another Dutch athlete, Irene Wust, who retired following the 2022 Games.

Reigning Olympic champion Erin Jackson, the U.S. skater who in 2022 became the first Black woman to win an individual Winter Olympic gold, finished off the podium in 5th.

Jackson, 33, battled a series of health issues over the last three years, including a hamstring injury sustained ahead of the third World Cup this season. Before this year, she secured back-to-back World Cup titles in the distance (2023-24, 2024-25) and gold medals at the 2024 and 2025 Four Continents Championships. 

American teammate Sarah Warren finished 28th in her Olympic debut.

Speed skating continues Tuesday, Feb. 17, with the men's and women's team pursuit semifinals and finals. Skaters will take the ice at 8:30 a.m. E.T.