Garzon claimed victory in what proved to be a tight competition in the Chinese city as she clocked 23min 51.346sec to finish narrowly in front of compatriot Fabriana Arias, who crossed the line in 23:51.459.

The South American monopoly of the podium in the distance event, one of the most gruelling on the programme at the International Roller Sports Federation (FIRS) sanctioned World Championships, continued when Argentina’s Mayra Yaquel Arias earned the bronze medal with a time of 23:51.987.

Colombia were denied a clean sweep of the 15,000m races as Alex Cujavante was second behind world champion Peter Michael of New Zealand.

Michael, one of the leading names in the sport of speed skating, clinched gold in another hard-fought contest as he recorded a time of 21:55.915, with Cujavante having to settle for silver 21:55.927.

Ewen Fernandez of France, who represented his country in the speed skating events at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, sealed the bronze medal by finishing in 21:56.376.

Competitors from South America were the outstanding performers on day one of the event in Nanjing, which played host to the 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games, as Maria Sepulveda of Chile won the women’s 300m time trial event.

The Chilean skater sprinted home in a time of 26.135sec to secure the world title ahead of Yiseul An of South Korea, 0.053 slower than Sepulveda.

Jercy Puello added to the Colombian haul on the first day of competition as she rounded off the podium with bronze in 26.198.

Germany’s Simon Albrecht also had to fight off two South American racers to land the men’s 300m time trial crown as he clocked 23.869 to ensure he topped the podium.

Emanuelle Silva Santibanez of Chile took home the silver medal on 23.972, while Colombia’s Andres Jiminez’s time of 24.101 proved enough for the bronze.

The event in the Chinese city is due to continue tomorrow.