MILAN, Italy – Xandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands continued her dominant run in short track speedskating, capturing gold in the women’s 1000m at the , 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. This victory marks her second gold medal of the Games, following her triumph in the 500m just four days prior.
Velzeboer finished ahead of Canada’s Courtney Sarault, who secured the silver medal, and South Korea’s Kim Gil-Li, who took bronze. The Dutch skater’s performance solidifies the Netherlands’ growing strength in short track, a discipline where they historically lagged behind nations like South Korea, and Italy.
The win denied Italian legend Arianna Fontana a potential three-peat in the event. Velzeboer’s ascent to the top of the podium comes after a stellar 2025, where she won four consecutive 500m races on the international circuit before Sarault edged her out at the final World Tour stop. Sarault, who earned her first Crystal Globe trophy this season, proved a formidable competitor once again, finishing second to Velzeboer in Monday’s race.
This victory is particularly significant for the Netherlands, as Velzeboer became the first Dutch woman to win the 1000m Olympic title. The nation’s success extends to the men’s events as well, with Jens van ‘t Wout claiming gold in both the men’s 1000m and 1500m, making him the first Dutch skater to win gold in any men’s short track event at the Olympics.
Kim Gil-Li’s bronze medal continues South Korea’s impressive legacy in short track. South Korean skaters have consistently placed on the 1000m podium at every Olympics, with the 2022 edition being the only exception. This result demonstrates the continued depth and strength of the South Korean program.
The performance of the U.S. Team was less successful in this event. Kristen Santos-Griswold, the sole American skater to reach the quarterfinals, finished third in her heat and failed to advance to the next round.
Velzeboer’s journey to gold wasn’t without its emotional challenges. Just days before her 1000m victory, she experienced disappointment when the Dutch relay team failed to medal. However, she channeled that frustration into a focused performance, delivering a decisive win in the 1000m final.
The Dutch takeover in short track speedskating is a relatively recent phenomenon. Prior to Suzanne Schulting’s historic performance at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, the Netherlands had never won an Olympic medal in the sport. Since then, the Dutch team has rapidly ascended to become a dominant force, now owning the golden position in every individual men’s final contested so far in Milan.
The men’s 500m heats saw several top contenders advance to the quarterfinals, including two-time reigning Crystal Globe champion William Dandjinou of Canada, overall world No. 2 Pietro Sighel of Italy, reigning Olympic champion Liu Shaoang of China, Beijing bronze medalist Steven Dubois of Canada, and the victorious Jens van ‘t Wout.
Velzeboer’s win underscores a shift in the landscape of short track speedskating, with the Netherlands emerging as a major contender alongside traditional powerhouses like South Korea and Italy. Her success, coupled with the achievements of her teammates, signals a bright future for Dutch short track and sets the stage for continued competition at the highest level.
