CALGARY — Long-track speedskater Heather Richardson-Bergsma of the United States set a world record in the women’s 1,000 metres Saturday in a World Cup.
Richardson-Bergsma posted a new mark of one minute 12.51 seconds at the Olympic Oval in Calgary.
Her American teammate Brittany Bowe had lowered the world record just minutes earlier with a time of 1:12.54.
"When she (Bowe) set it, I just told myself you can skate fast too, so let’s just see what happens," Richardson said.
A slip on the final turn almost cost her the world record time.
"I just had to get to the line after that," Richardson said. "That was the only thing that I was thinking about.
"My legs get a little heavy going into the last inner (corner), so I think there is still room for improvement going into Salt Lake."
Bowe had held the previous record 1:12.58 since 2013.
Hong Zhang of China was third in 1:12.65.