VANCOUVER – Dutch speed skater Irene Wust, one of only six openly gay athletes at the Winter Games, won a gold medal Sunday in the women’s 1500-meter race.

Wust wept on the medal podium as the Dutch national anthem was played.

“Pulling all the pieces together, I’m so proud and happy. I can’t describe how happy I am. I don’t have words for it,” Wust told reporters. “I think I’m the happiest person on earth right now.”

Wust finished with a time of 1 minute, 56.89 seconds. Kristina Groves of Canada won the silver in 1:57.14 and Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic took the bronze in 1:57.96.

Previously, Wust won a gold medal at the 2006 Winter Games in the 3000-meter race and a bronze medal in the 1500-meter race.