Shanghai / China

A fall with half a lap to go left race leader Martina Valcepina (ITA) distraught and dramatically changed the outcome of the Ladies 500m final.

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Canada’s Kim Boutin took advantage to win her first gold medal – and fourth individual medal – of the Audi ISU World Cup Short Track.

Silver went to Arianna Fontana (ITA), while Sofia Prosvirnova (RUS) benefitted from Valcepina’s misfortune to collect bronze.

Regarding the finish, Boutin said: “I don’t know what to say but I was fortunate. A lot of things happened.

“It’s not the race I expected but it’s a good thing. I’m pretty confident about the (Olympic) Games coming up. I’m pretty comfortable.”

Fontana, the veteran of the Italian team, felt for her compatriot, who was inconsolable after the race.

“At the start, I saw her going and I was like, OK, at least someone is doing good,” she said.

“I’m really sorry about her falling because she was going to bring home the gold medal. I’m sure she’s really upset and I hope she’ll use this anger in the relay.”

For the five-time Olympic medallist, however, the prospects are looking up.

“I feel better than the first two World Cup (events). I feel I’m more in the race,” she said.

There was no B final as Maame Biney (USA) was the only skater. Suzanne Schulting (NED) was penalised in the semifinals while Fan Kexin (CHN) and Elise Christie (GBR) were disqualified for false starts.

In a repeat of the previous Dordrecht leg, there was no Korean representation in this final. The 1500m World Cup leader Choi Min Jeong and Kim Ye Jin were eliminated at the quarterfinal stage.

Full results and and classifications