Zhang Hong Photo: CFP

 Zhang Hong's victory in the women's 1,000 meters speed skating on Thursday, which was China's first ever Olympic gold in the sport, will inspire the Chinese delegation at the Sochi Games, a top Chinese official said.

"It was a historic moment when Zhang ended China's Olympic gold drought in speed skating, a blue-ribbon event in winter sports," said Xiao Tian, deputy chef de mission.

"It is the heaviest gold medal for the country and we have been waiting for this for 22 years."

The 25-year-old Zhang clocked 1 minute and 14.02 seconds for the gold, 0.67 seconds­ ahead of Netherlands' Ireen Wust.

China won its first Olympic speed skating medal in 1992 when Ye Qiaobo finished runner­-up over both 500 meters­ and 1,000 meters. But the gold had never come until the Sochi Games.

"For so many times, we had narrowly missed it," said Xiao.

"Ye, Xue Ruihong, Wang Manli ... All these skaters had done their part in the sport. The gold medal is a reward to all the efforts we had made.

"This means a lot to the future of Chinese speed skating and it will raise the confidence of the Chinese team."

Although she was a short track skater for seven years, Zhang Hong switched to speed skating six years ago.

"I think credit should go to Feng Qingbo," said Xiao.

"As Zhang's coach, Feng is open-minded and resourceful and he has an edge in training and strategy-making. It's fair to say that, without Feng, Zhang could not be so successful."