Japan's men's 500-meter speed skaters were left wanting Monday, Daichi Yamanaka only managing fifth as Norway's Havard Lorentzen won gold at the Pyeongchang Winter Games.
Lorentzen, a three-time winner on the World Cup circuit this season, set a new Olympic record time of 34.41 seconds for first place at Gangneung Oval.
Unheralded South Korean Cha Min Kyu two races earlier had matched the previous Olympic record with 34.42 but was pushed into silver. China's Gao Tingyu took the bronze in 34.65.
"It's the best race I've ever done. It's been 20 years since the last gold medal (for) Norway in speed skating, so it's been a while," said Lorentzen. "It's time for Norway to step up on the top of the podium again. It feels so good to do that today."
"Two and a half years ago, I had a big crash on the ice in training and cut off half my calf," said Lorentzen, who required a skin graft after the accident.
"Ever since then, training has been good. I've come back stronger than ever and the last two seasons have been amazing. Now to crown it with Olympic gold, it's unbelievable."
Yamanaka broke the timing beam in 34.78, while Japanese former 500 world record holder and Vancouver Olympic bronze medalist Joji Kato was sixth.
"I wasn't quite able to get the time I was looking for, one that would have put me in gold medal contention," said Yamanaka, who achieved his first World Cup podium finish when he placed second in Stavanger, Norway in November.
"I was nervous but started well and was okay over the first 100 meters but slowed down over the next lap. Still, I was able to keep my focus and I think I had a good skate."
Kato logged 34.831, just 0.008 of a second ahead of Sochi bronze medalist Ronald Mulder of the Netherlands. Tsubasa Hasegawa was 14th in 35.08.
"I am really disappointed because I had a wobble on the first curve," said Kato. "I was making a different sort of challenge here compared to in the past but I have really felt the support of the people around me over these last few years."
"To come back (to the Olympics) and have the top skaters in my sights...I couldn't get to the top but all I have is thanks to the people that made it possible for me to give it my best shot."
More on the Olympics:
Olympics: Japan moves into women's speed skating team pursuit semis
Olympics: CAS opens doping case after OAR curler's failed test
Olympics: Norway lands team ski jumping gold, Japan 6th
