Norway, Japan claim men's and women's team pursuit speed skating titles in Pyeongchang Games

PYEONGCHANG - Norway and Japan emerged as winners of the men's and women's team pursuit speed skating events here on Wednesday in the Pyeongchang Winter Games.

The Norwegian team consisted of Havard Bokko, Simen Spieler Nilsen and Lunde Pedersen beat defending champions the Netherlands in the semifinals before winning the final against South Korea with a time of three minutes and 37.32 seconds.

South Korea finished with the silver medal in 3:38.52 while the Dutchmen went home with a bronze in 3:38.40.

The Dutchwomen also failed to defend their Olympic title as they finished runners-up to Japan in the women's team pursuit final after crossing line in two minutes and 55.48 seconds.

Having claimed nine victories in the last 11 World Cup races in this event, including each of the last six, Japan reaped their first Olympic gold medal in the women's team pursuit in a new Olympic record of two minutes and 53.89 seconds, bettering the previous record of 2:55.61 set by the Netherlands in Monday's quarterfinals.

It was the second speed skating gold medal that Japan won at these Winter Games following Nao Kodaira's triumph in Sunday's women's 500m.

The United States came in third on 2:59.27 ahead of Canada.