Yang was targeting an improvement on her bronze medal in the women's 1,500m earlier this week at the St Moritz Skating Oval.

The Chinese skater advanced to the final in impressive fashion, top-scoring in her semi-final to emerge as a clear contender for gold.

Yang delivered a repeat performance in the final, as the 17-year-old earned 30 points, which saw her finish top of the standings.

Having delivered China's first gold medal of the Winter Youth Olympic Games, Yang is sure to receive increased attention with the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics drawing closer.

The Czech Republic broke their duck at Lausanne 2020, with Zuzana Kursova earning their first medal.

Kursova secured silver after finishing the competition with 25 points, while Italy's Katia Filippi took bronze on 10.

The men's competition confirmed Japan's Arito Motonaga as a potential star of the future, as he secured his second gold medal of the Games.

Arito had already earned the men's 1,500m title, as well as playing a key role in ensuring his mixed National Olympic Committee team won a sprint silver medal yesterday.

The 17-year-old, who lists Dutch speed skating legend Sven Kramer among his heroes, scored 30 points in the final to take gold.

Silver went to Diego Amaya Martinez, who won Colombia's maiden medal at the Games.

The former roller-skater, who now trains in the United States, scored 20 points in the final to ensure himself of a medal.

Martinez had agonisingly finished fourth in both the 500m and 1,500m competitions, but ended his Games on the podium.

Russia's Pavel Taran completed the medal positions, scoring 10 points for bronze.