South Korea's Lee Sang-Hwa set a new Olympic record on her way to defending her 500m speed skating crown.
Lee, the winner of seven World Cup races this season, led after the first run and her second-run record of 37.28 seconds gave her an aggregate time of 74.70 seconds.
Russia's Olga Fatkulina finished second in a combined time of 75.06secs.
And there was a bronze for Margot Boer, who won the Netherlands' first-ever medal in the event.
"It was a lot of pressure. She is a real champion," said Lee's Canadian coach Kevin Crockett.
"Right now, she is almost Usain Bolt," silver medallist Fatkulina said.