China's Ning upsets Stolz to win men's 1,500m speed skating gold at Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics

MILAN, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's Ning Zhongyan upset title favorite Jordan Stolz of the United States to win the men's 1,500m speed skating at the Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games here on Thursday.

Ning, who had reaped two bronzes in the men's 1,000m and team pursuit, clocked a new Olympic record time of one minute 41.98 seconds to collect China's first Olympic gold in this event and his third medal at these Games.

Following his victories in the 1,000m and 500m, Stolz finished 0.77 seconds behind Ning for the 1,500m silver, with the bronze going to defending Olympic champion Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands in 1:42.82. ■