SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Denis Yuskov won the 1,500-meter title Thursday for Russia’s first gold medal since 1996 at speedskating’s world championships.
In the women’s race, 2006 Turin Olympics champion Ireen Wust of the Netherlands won her second worlds gold in the 3,000.
Yuskov finished in 1 minute, 46.32 seconds to edge Olympic 1,000 champion Shani Davis of the United States by 0.51 and compatriot Ivan Skobrev by 0.65 at the Sochi Olympics venue. Davis, a three-time world champion at the distance, led by almost a second with one lap left.
Wust was timed in 4:02.43 for her seventh worlds gold. Defending champion Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic was 2.37 seconds behind. Five-time Olympic winner Claudia Pechstein of Germany was 5.32 behind for her 38th podium finish at the worlds.
