Dutch speed skating great Ireen Wüst wins 1,500m for 6th Olympic gold medal

Ireen Wüst added to her haul as the most decorated speed skater in Olympic history with another gold Monday at the Beijing Games.

The 35-year-old Dutch skater defended her title in the 1,500 metres, setting an Olympic record with a time of one minute, 53.28 seconds at the Ice Ribbon oval.

Miho Takagi of Japan claimed the silver in 1:53.72, while the bronze went to Antoinette de Jong of the Netherlands in 1:54.82.

The mighty Dutch team won its second gold in three speed skating events, setting itself up for another big performance after dominating the last two Winter Games at the oval.

Wüst just keeps getting stronger. She's now won 12 medals over her career, including six golds. That makes her the most decorated athlete in the history of speed skating, as well as her country's most prolific Olympic medallist.

Amazingly, Wüst has medalled in the 1,500 at the last five Olympics. She's won the gold three times, to go along with a silver and a bronze.

Wüst broke the previous Olympic mark of 1:53.51 set by Jorien ter Mors of the Netherlands at the 2014 Sochi Games.

Canada's Blondin looks ahead

Skating next to Wüst, Ottawa's Ivanie Blondin was the top Canadian in the event, placing 13th with a time of 1:56.59. Blondin previously finished 14th in the 3,000m.

"I was going into as an underdog and I skated like an underdog, so it is what it is," Blondin told CBC Sports' Anastasia Bucsis after the race.

She said following the race that she'd likely be scratching the 5,000m from her schedule.

"For me, the team pursuit has always been an easier distance in my head. Just knowing I could rely on my teammates takes a little bit of the pressure off and I always skate well like that. And the mass start is a physical fight, and I'm good at those," Blondin said.

Fellow Canadian Maddison Pearman, of Konoka, Alta., placed 24th in 1:59.89.

Canada already has one speed skating medal in Beijing, a bronze won by Isabelle Weidemann in the 3,000m.