KOLOMNA, Russia, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Olympic champion Zhang Hong picked a bronze medal at the World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships, finishing behind Lee Sang-hwa and Brittany Bowe.

Two-time Olympic champion Lee of South Korea won the women's 500 meters gold medal, her third world title, registering the track record time of 74.859 seconds after two runs.

American Bowe took the silver in 75.663 seconds, and Zhang Hong had to settle for the bronze in 75.688.

Zhang, who posted the second-best time in the first run, could only manage the third-fastest clocking in the second.