Dutch athletes shine in 3,000 meter speed skating

Netherlands achieved a triplet today in the women's 3,000 meter speed skating event at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Carlijn Achtereekte won the gold medal by just 8 hundredths of a second ahead of Ireen Wust, who could not become the first Dutch athlete to win five Olympic gold medals.

The third place went to Antoinette de Jong, finishing 0.81 seconds behind the winner.

Netherlands is a major power in speed skating, winning 23 out of 36 available medals in the 2014 Sochi Games. The team also achieved four complete podiums in Russia.

German veteran skater Claudia Pechstein aimed to achieve the record of winning five gold medals in five different Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, but she ended up far from the top athletes in ninth position.

The 45-year-old German will have another chance to improve her record of five golds, two silvers, and two bronzes in the 5,000 meters on Friday.