体坛英语新闻：South Korean speed skater Lee sets new world record in 500m

CALGARY, Canada, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's Lee Sang-hwa established herself as the fastest woman on skates Sunday when she set a new world record in the 500 meters at the Essent ISU World Cup speed skating event in Alberta.

In a field that featured China's Yu Jing, who became the first female skater to go under 37 seconds a year ago, Lee shaved off 0.14 seconds off the Harbin sprinter's mark to cross the finish line at the Calgary Olympic Oval in 36.80. American Heather Richardson (37.42) was a distant second in the 500m Ladies Division A race, while Margot Boer (37.54) of the Netherlands claimed the bronze.

Yu, who set her world record on the same ice at the World Sprint Championships, finished fourth in 37.66. On Saturday she won a bronze in the same event, the only medal China won over the weekend. Veteran Wang Beixing (37.74) was seventh for a second straight day.

"I didn't expect the world record here," said a surprised Lee through an interpreter. "I was hoping to set it next week in Salt Lake City (at the World Sprint Championships)."

Richardson, who was tied for second overall in the Grand World Cup standings going into the weekend, also won her second gold medal in the 1,000m Ladies Division A race in as many days in 1:13.30. Irene Wust of the Netherland claimed the silver in 1:13.89, ahead of American Brittany Bowe.

Other multiple medal winners included the Netherland's Jan Smeekens who won his second straight gold in the 500m Men's Division A race in a time of 34.39. Japan's Joli Kato (34.44) won silver, and Michel Mulder (34.55) of the Netherlands the bronze.

The 500m Men's Division B race saw Canadian Laurent Dubreuil (34.81) 0placed first ahead of the Netherland's Kjeld Nuis (34.85) and German Nico Ihle (34.95). China's Mu Zhongsheng (35.63) was 16th.

The other Chinese result included Qi Shuai finishing 18th in the 1,000m Ladies Division B race won by Canada's Brittany Schussler (1:15.58).

The Netherlands' Hein Otterspeer (1:07.76) claimed the 1,000m Men's Division A crown, beating American Shani Davis (1:07.83) and German Samuel Schwarz (1:07.85).

The next ISU World Cup event is February 9-10 in Inzell, Germany. Enditem