SOCHI, Feb. 13 -- Li Jianrou claimed China's first gold medal in the Sochi Winter Olympic Games on Thursday as she won the women's 500m short track speed skating final which saw the other three skaters crash at the beginning.

The 27-year-old Chinese cruised to victory in 45.263 seconds and Italian Arianna Fontanna took the silver in 51.250 after recovering from a fall.

South Korean Park Seung-Hi took the bronze in 54.207 seconds and Britain's Elise Christie was disqualified for bringing down other skaters.