Dutch Speedskaters Dominate Short Track Olympics

Xandra Velzeboer wins gold and sets new world record in women's 500m, while Jens van 't Wout takes gold in men's 1000m

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a dominant display, Dutch speedskaters Xandra Velzeboer and Jens van 't Wout won gold medals in the short track events at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics. Velzeboer set a new world record in the women's 500m semifinals before going on to win the final, while van 't Wout surged past Canada's William Dandjinou in the closing laps to take the men's 1000m title.

Why it matters

The success of the Dutch speedskaters continues the country's long tradition of excellence in short track, a sport in which the Netherlands has consistently been a powerhouse. Velzeboer's world record and gold medal add to her growing reputation as one of the top female short track skaters in the world, while van 't Wout's victory gives the Dutch men's team a boost after a disappointing relay result earlier in the Games.

The details

Velzeboer, 24, won the women's 500m gold medal with a time of 41.609 seconds, over half a second ahead of silver medalist Arianna Fontana of Italy. Earlier in the evening, Velzeboer had set an Olympic record of 41.853 in the quarterfinals and then broke her own world record with a time of 41.399 in the semifinals. In the men's 1000m, van 't Wout overtook Canada's William Dandjinou in the final lap to win gold with a time of 1:24.537, just ahead of China's Sun Long and South Korea's Jongun Rim.

  • Velzeboer set the old world record of 41.416 in 2022.
  • Velzeboer clocked an Olympic-record 41.853 in the quarterfinals.
  • Velzeboer established the new world mark of 41.399 in the semifinals.
  • The women's 500m final took place on Thursday night.
  • The men's 1000m final also took place on Thursday night.

The players

Xandra Velzeboer

A 24-year-old Dutch short track speedskater who won gold in the women's 500m and set a new world record in the event.

Jens van 't Wout

A Dutch short track speedskater who won gold in the men's 1000m with a thrilling final lap surge.

Arianna Fontana

An Italian short track speedskater who won silver in the women's 500m, extending her record for most Olympic short track medals.

Courtney Sarault

A Canadian short track speedskater who won bronze in the women's 500m.

William Dandjinou

A Canadian short track speedskater who finished second in the men's 1000m.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is the best day of my life. It's amazing. It's been my goal for the last four years. Maybe for my entire life.”

— Xandra Velzeboer (Instagram)

“Xandra, today, was on fire. I'm a little bit sad that I couldn't stay with her.”

— Arianna Fontana (Instagram)

“She puts a lot of pressure on herself, but she continues to perform with that pressure. That's what makes someone special — being be able to perform with the pressure. And I'm sure in the Netherlands, there's a lot more pressure for short track speedskating than there is in Canada. And she keeps doing it.”

— Courtney Sarault, Canadian bronze medalist (Instagram)

“For me, it was the best race that I've ever done. It's amazing to be able to skate in Italy for so (many) Dutch people. To hear the whole crowd go crazy was beautiful. So beautiful.”

— Jens van 't Wout (Instagram)

The takeaway

The Dutch speedskaters' dominant performance in the short track events at the Milan Cortina Olympics underscores the country's enduring excellence in the sport, with Velzeboer and van 't Wout delivering gold medal-winning efforts that thrilled the large contingent of Dutch fans in attendance.