Ireen Wüst has become the first athlete to win an individual event at five consecutive Olympic Games.
The 35-year-old Dutchwoman obliterated the field in the 1,500 metres long track event at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, winning by 0.44 seconds in a new Olympic record time of 1:53.28.
"It's really hard to describe," she told the Olympic News Service.
"A lot of emotions, especially the good ones. I don't realise it yet.
It was her 12th Olympic medal, her sixth gold to go alongside five silvers and a single bronze.
She is the seventh person to win a gold medal in five consecutive Olympics, but all the others competed in team events.
World record holder Miho Takagi of Japan, who went in the final pairing, was unable to haul in her rival's time to finish second with Dutch skater Antoinette de Jong third.
"I really have to say congratulations because she really did amazing today," De Jong said of her illustrious teammate.
The greatest Olympian in the Netherlands
Dutch speed skating coach Gerard van Velde, who joked that Wüst teaches him more than the other way round, said this was one of her best performances.
"This is amazing. This is something you wish for," he said.
"It's one of the best 1,500 metre races she ever skated, and again she does it when it really counts.
"That's a gift, and that's why she's the greatest Olympian in the Netherlands."
Despite the enormity of what Wüst was set to achieve, van Velde said his charge kept her composure throughout.
"Today, she was very relaxed. We knew she was ready for it. There was not much we had to do [to help her].
"Look at her final 300m, most skaters are in a hurry, but she just kept it nice and clean.
"To keep your composure under this intense pressure, that's a rare talent. Especially under those circumstances.
"She's 35 years old and to pull this off once again is just amazing."
A study of longevity
Wüst's record is an example of remarkable longevity.
She became the youngest ever Dutch winner of an Olympic gold medal in Turin by winning the 3,000m aged 19.
In Vancouver she added the first of her three 1,500m titles in Vancouver.
A five-medal haul followed in Sochi, with two golds - in the 3,000m and the team pursuit - and three silvers.
Four years ago in PyeongChang, Wüst reclaimed the 1,500m title, which she defended in Beijing to cement her legacy as the greatest and most decorated Dutch Olympian of all time
"When I was 19, it felt like a party. Everything was so amazing. I felt like a child in a candy shop," she said
"A lot of things happened to me during the last 16 years, so this one is more emotional.
"You overcome so many things. The first time is the 'easiest' one to win. Winning for the fifth time is the hardest one to win.
"I cannot say which Olympic gold medal is more important for me.
"It's like having six children and you have to pick which one is the most beautiful. They all mean a lot to me."
Wust has said the Beijing Olympics will be her last before she retires from the sport.
