[2][3] Jorien ter Mors became the Olympic champion, continuing the trend that all 2018 Olympic gold medals in speed skating up to this event were won by Dutch skaters.

Nao Kodaira became second, and Miho Takagi was third, two days after her silver medal in the 1500m event.

The defending champion was Zhang Hong, and the 2014 silver medalist, Ireen Wüst, was also competing.

In 15th pair Nao Kodaira, the world record holder at this distance, had a time behind than of ten Mors but below the former Olympic record of Chris Witty, shifting Takagi to the bronze medal position.

There was one pair to go, but Marrit Leenstra only finished sixth, not changing the order of medals.