Speed skating: Japan's Takagi surges to mass start gold

[February 24, 2018]    GANGNEUNG, South Korea (Reuters) - Japanese speed skater Nana Takagi unleashed a late surge of explosive speed to pass Dutchwoman Irene Schouten on the inside of the final corner and claim an Olympic gold medal in the women's mass start at the Gangneung Oval on Saturday.

 Nana Takagi of Japan celebrates after winning the race. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

South Korean Kim Bo-reum slipped into the channel created by Takagi to win the silver medal 0.12 seconds behind the Japanese as Schouten settled for bronze.

(Reporting by Simon Jennings; editing by Clare Fallon)

[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.