Dutchman Michel Mulder has successfully defended his sprint speed skating world title at the world championships in Nagano, Japan.

Silver went to Shani Davis of the US and Daniel Greig from Australia was a surprise bronze medal winner.

It is the sixth time a Dutchman has taken the world sprint title.

In the women’s event, Margot de Boer had been in the running for a medal but ended in fourth place.

Skaters have to compete in four races – 2 x 500 metres and 2 x 1,000 metres – to determine the winners.

Mulder won both 500 metre events but was fifth and third in the 1,000 metres. De Boer came second in her first three races and third in the fourth, putting her outside the medals.

China’s Jing Yu and Hong Zhang took gold and silver in the women’s event, and Heather Richardson of the US won bronze.

Watch Mulder’s winning race here.