Swings triumphs at Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Belgium's 1st gold after 74 years

Speedskater earns gold in men's mass start; Belgium previously claimed gold in St. Moritz 1948 Winter Olympics

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) – Belgium bagged Olympic gold in the Winter Games after 74 years as speedskater Bart Swings raced to victory in men's mass start at Beijing 2022 on Saturday.

Swings, 31, won a historic gold medal, which meant Belgium's first Winter Olympic gold since 1948.

Micheline Lannoy, and Pierre Baugniet, who died in 1981, claimed a gold medal for Belgium in St. Moritz 1948 Winter Olympics in pairs figure skating.

The 1948 Olympics in Switzerland's St. Moritz were the first Winter Games after World War II.

On Saturday, Swings racked up 63 sprint points in 16 laps to beat South Korean pair Chung Jae Won, and Lee Seung Hoon at National Speed Skating Oval.

Chung had 40 points to get silver, and his compatriot Lee got 20 points to return home with a bronze medal.

The 2022 champion, Swings previously won a silver medal at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.

Beijing 2022 will run through Feb. 20.

Kaynak:

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