Davide Ghiotto has won his second gold medal of the 2017 Winter Universiade here today ©Almaty 2017

Italy’s Davide Ghiotto has won his second speed skating gold medal of the 2017 Winter Universiade here in Almaty after blowing away the rest of the field in the 10,000 metres event today at the Medeu High-mountain Ice Rink.

Earlier this week the Italian won the 5,000m and has now won a second title after he crossed the line in a time of 13 min 48.12sec.

Ghiotto, who studies at the University of Trento, established an early lead and was already almost a second quicker than anybody else after just 400m. 

The 23-year-old was followed onto the podium by Japan's Masahito Obayashi and South Korea's Hyunwoong Moon.

Obayashi took second in 14:24.95 while Moon completed the podium in 14:26.00.

Russia's Aleksandra Kachurkina powered into first place in the women's 1,000m in the latter stages of the race and went on to claim victory.

Russia's Aleksandra Kachurkina, centre, won the women's 1,000m gold by setting a track record ©Almaty 2017
Russia's Aleksandra Kachurkina, centre, won the women's 1,000m gold by setting a track record ©Almaty 2017

She crossed the line in a time of 1:19.10 to win the title by the narrowest of margins.

The Russian's time also set a new track record in this event, defeating former Soviet skater Natalya Petruseva's time of 1:19.31.

"I have grown tired over the past several days," said Kachurkina.

"It was difficult to skate in such weather.

"I am grateful to the organisers who shovelled off snow while we ran.

"I am happy that I was able to set the rink record."

South Korea's Kim Hyunyung took second in 1:19.19 while Kazakhstan's Yekaterina Aidova delighted the home crowd when she completed the podium with her time of 1:19.53.