09.02 Speedskating: Wust Wins 3rd Olympic Gold, Graf Brings Russia First Medal

SOCHI, February 9 (R-Sport) - Ireen Wust seared to Sochi speedskating title in the 3,000m on Sunday, claiming an Olympic gold at her third-successive Games.

Wust, 27, completed the distance in four minutes, 00.34 seconds to beat reigning champion Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic to the gold medal by 1.61 seconds.

The bronze went to Russia's Olga Graf in a first medal for the host nation at these Games, clocking a time 3.13 seconds slower than Wust.

Wust adds the Sochi title to the gold medal in the same event in Turin back in 2006 and in the 1,500m in Vancouver four years ago. She won the 1,500m and 3,000m gold on the Adler Arena ice at last year's single distance world championships.

German veteran Claudia Pechstein