Japanese skater Miho Takagi shatters Olympic 1,000m record for 1st gold in Beijing

Miho Takagi of Japan has won her fourth speed skating medal of the Beijing Games and the first individual gold of her career with an Olympic-record victory in the women's 1,000 metres.

The silver went to Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands, while Brittany Bowe of the United States claimed the first individual medal of her career with a bronze.

Takagi added to silver medals in the 500 metre, 1,500 metres and team pursuit at the Beijing Games. She won three medals in Pyeongchang four years ago, taking gold in the team pursuit, silver in the 1,500 and bronze in the 1,000.

It appeared as though her first Beijing gold would come in the team pursuit once again, but sister Nana Takagi fell on the final turn, clearing the path for Canada to come out on top.

Takagi won with a time of one minute, 13.19 seconds, easily breaking the previous Olympic record of 1:13.56 set in 2018 by Jorien ter Mors. Ter Mors did not get a chance to defend her title after failing to make the powerful Dutch team.

"I'm happy, but after the race I was a little sad with my corner that cost me some seconds. I had too much speed and wasn't used to it. I just thought 'oh', and hammered one more lap," Takagi said after her race.

Leerdam posted a time of 1:13.83 despite dragging her left hand on the ice to stay upright in a turn. Bowe grabbed the bronze in 1:14.61, just 0.1 seconds ahead of Russian skater Angelina Golikova.

Alexa Scott, a 20-year-old from Clandeboye, Man., was the top Canadian after placing 12 with a time of 1:15.79. Maddison Pearman, the 26-year-old Ponoka, Alta., native, finished 26th in 1:17.66.

WATCH | Canada's women's team pursuit beats Japan for gold: