TURIN, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Dutch speedskater Bob de Jong won the men's 10,000 metres at the Turin Winter Olympics on Friday.

De Jong built up a world-record pace halfway through and, fired on by a Dutch crowd clocked laps below 32 seconds until the end.

Skating to the chants of "Holland, Holland", the Dutchman who had won silver in the distance at the 1998 Nagano Games, maintained his speed to set an unbeatable time of 13:01.57.

American Chad Hedrick claimed silver with 13:05.40 while De Jong's compatriot Carl Verheijen finished third.

Hedrick won his third medal in Turin having grabbed a 5,000 gold and a 1,500 bronze earlier in the Games.

De Jong, who had competed in the fourth pair, kept a close eye on the set of skaters and as soon as he noticed that Hedrick had failed to beat his time, he punched the air in delight before collapsing on his back at the centre of the rink.

When the result flashed up on the giant screen at the Turin rink, a sea of orange-clad supporters jumped up to their feet to cheer on yet another Dutch success.

De Jong's victory gave the Netherlands their third speedskating title at the Olympics.

It was an emotional farewell for Bart Veldkamp, who was competing in his last race after five Olympic Games.

Given a standing ovation by the crowd and throwing flowers back into the stands, Veldkamp, racing for Belgium since 1998, had won gold in the 10,000 at the 1992 Games and bronze in the 1994 Olympics for Netherlands.