The Netherlands has made the second podium sweep in the Sochi Olympic speed skating in three days as twin brothers Michel and Ronald Mulder finished first and third respectively over 500 meters.

Michel was the most consistent sprinter over two races with 34.634 seconds and 34.678, totaling 69.312 to clinch the gold, while his younger brother Ronald took the bronze in 69.46.

Jan Smeekens won race 1, setting a track record of 34.59 but could not beat Michel Mulder and bagged a silver in 69.324. Defending champion Mo Tae Bum of South Korea had to settle for fourth place in 69.69.

Mulder brothers became the second set of twins after alpine skiers Phil Mahre and Steven Mahre of the United States won medals in the same individual event at the 1984 Olympic Winter Games.

"When I crossed the line I just didn't know. Then I saw that I had won and I couldn't believe it." said the 27-year-old.

"Now I have won everything there is to win. After all this work, I'm the Olympic champion, I can't believe it," said the twice sprint world champion and Berlin World Cup winner.

Calgary World Cup champion Ronald said the first race cost him the victory.

"My first race was not that good, so I knew I needed a real fast one to be a contender for the gold. I did a very good second race, it was almost perfect," he said.

"My lane change was perfect, so I hoped that for the others the change would be more difficult, but it wasn't."

It did not take long for Ronald to settle for the bronze especially when the winner is his older brother.

"If your twin brother becomes Olympic champion and you win bronze yourself, you have to be satisfied," he said.

Smeekens also had mixed feelings about his medal as he missed the gold by one hundredth of a second.

"At first I had mixed feelings because it was so close. I looked at the scoreboard and I thought that I'd won, and seconds later I saw I didn't." said Smeekens, turning 27 on Tuesday. He already improved a lot from his sixth place in Vancouver four years ago.

"But now I have to be happy with my second place. It was a very stressful day, and now I've won an Olympic medal. It's unbelievable," he said.

For the two Chinese youngsters - Mu Zhongsheng and Bai Qiuming, finishing in 30th and 35th respectively, the trip to Sochi is more like a learning experience.

"I found my weakness and discovered how many things I need to improve. Also this is my first Olympics where everything made me nervous," said Mu, 22.

"I believe I will be much better next time."

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