Pechstein wins 5,000 meters in Seoul

The 42-year-old Pechstein set a new record for the oval in the South Korean capital, completing the 5,000 meter-race in a time of 7:07.77 minutes. Olympic gold medalist Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic was almost five seconds slower, crossing the finish line in 7:13.08 to finish second, followed by Canada's Ivanie Blondin (7:14.53)

Following the race, a euphoric Pechstein said it was "a great feeling" to be at the top of the podium six years after her last World Cup win over 5,000 meters.

'Perfect race'

The head of the German team was equally euphoric.

"From a technical and tactical point of view it was a perfect race," Helge Jasch said. "She was looking good in training but you couldn't have expected this. The time is outstanding."

Pechstein was in the second-to-last pair to skate in the final round, in which she left her opponent, Diane Valkenburg of the Netherlands, far behind. The Berlin native knew she had a good shot at gold, giving the thumbs up as she crossed the finish line. However, she still had to wait for the outcome of the final run between Sablikova and Jorien Voohuis of the Netherlands. Sablikova had gone into the last round with a slight lead over Pechstein, but had a poor final run, handing victory to Pechstein.

The was the 32nd career World Cup win for Pechstein, and the second time she has reached the podium in this young speedskating season, after finishing third along with teammates Beate Kraus and Gabriele Hirschbichler in the team pursuit in Japan last week.

Blood doping ban

The success will be particularly sweet for Pechstein, who has battled to comeback from a two-year ban for blood doping handed down by the International Skating Union in 2009. She has always denied that she had doped, but she failed to get the ban overturned. She is the first athlete to have been banned for doping despite the fact that no banned substances were ever found in her blood.

The ISU's decision to ban Pechstein was based on irregular levels of reticulocytes in her blood. She returned to competition in early 2011.

pfd/tj (SID, dpa)