SOCHI — World speed skating sprint champion Michel Mulder and his twin brother Ronald of the Netherlands won Sochi Olympic gold and bronze in the men's 500 meters on Monday.
Michel Mulder, 27, had trailed another Dutchman, Jan Smeekins, after Race 1 but leapfrogged his countryman in the second race to claim gold in a combined time of 63.31 seconds and lead a second Dutch speed skating podium sweep in Sochi.
Smeekins had to settle for silver just one hundredth of a second behind Mulder, while Ronald Mulder claimed bronze after posting the fastest race of the afternoon to climb from sixth to third in the final classification in 69.46.
The expected strong challenge from Asia faltered as reigning champion Mo Tae-Bum of South Korea could only manage fourth in 69.69, followed by the other two medalists from Vancouver, Japanese pair Joji Kato and Keiichiro Nagashima.
Denis Koval was Russia's top performer with 70.440 seconds.
On Saturday, three Dutchmen — Sven Kramer, Jan Blokhuijsen and Jorrit Bergsma — got the top three places in the men's 5,000 meters.
