Fourteen medal events, 34 different medal winners (including Team Pursuit) and seven Olympic Records, the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 provided fast-paced racing, surprising winners, unassailable winners, tears of drama and, of course, tears of joy.

On the first day of the Games, Francesca Lollobrigida became first female Italian champion in Long Track speed skating and milestones kept coming up until the last day of the Games, when 40-yer-old Jorrit Bergsma became the oldest Olympic Champion in Long Track Speed Skating.

Queen Lollobrigida

After opening the Long Track competition winning the 3000m on her 35^th birthday, Lollobrigida went on winning the 5000m four days later, making her the most successful female skater in Milan. 

She celebrated the 3000m gold together with her two-year-old son, husband and family.

"I didn't do it alone," she said. "This is teamwork. I couldn't do anything by myself. It is also for them. I hope my son will be able to enjoy it in 10 years' time, when he is a bit older and watches the race. 

"This one is for everyone who believed in me. But also for the people who said, 'no, maybe she can't do it'. They gave me the power to prove myself."

Bergsma's privilege

For Bergsma, winning bronze in the 10,000m had already be the crown on his career, as he completed the medal set in the distance after having won gold in Sochi (2014) and bronze in PyeongChang (2018).

Jorrit Bergsma celebrates as he wins the gold medal in the Speed Skating Men's Mass Start during the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 in Milan Italy on February 2026  © Getty Images

"To be standing here with a gold medal as a 40-year-old guy is a privilege, even more so that I managed to do it in the mass start. I did not expect this at all," Bergsma said, and he didn't rule out another Olympic campaign in four years:

"I do not know yet if I will be back in four years, but now I guess I have to defend my title, right?"

Jílek takes over Sáblíková's legacy

Metodej Jílek (CZE) won the 10,000m to become the second-youngest male Olympic Champion in Long track Speed Skating after Igor Malkov (URS), who also won the 10,000m at the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo. 

Metodej Jilek of Czechia (Gold), Vladimir Semirunniy of Poland (Silver) and Jorrit Bergsma of Netherlands (Bronze) on the podium in Speed Skating Men's 10,000m at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 in Milan Italy on February 2026 © ISU

He said:

"I know that I can still improve. I can still up my training volume. There is room for growth, so I would say that this just came naturally.

"I have been skating really good results since I was young, also in inline skating. So I have always been up there, but I have also sacrificed a lot for this sport."

Jílek also became the first male Czech medal winner in Long Track Speed Skating, following the footsteps of Martina Sáblíková (CZE). The 38-year-old speed skating legend waved farewell to the sport at her sixth Olympic Games, which were hampered by virus infection. 

Sáblíková, who won a total of three gold medals, two silvers and two bronzes at previous games, finished 11^th in the 5000m in Milan. She said:

"It was the worst 5000m of my life. It was just impossible to skate fast. But at the same time, it was the best 5000m of my life.

"Before the start I was crazy emotional, I started crying, and then after the race… I don't have words. 

"The Olympics was my dream when I was 10 years old. I am so happy to be back on this stage. I won medals, but the most important thing is the friendships I have made with the athletes. That means so much to me.

Stolz beats 24-year-old record

Of the seven Olympic Records that were broken in Milan, the men's 1000m was the most special one. The mark dated back to since 2002, when Gerard van Velde (NED) skated a time of 1 minute and 7.18s.

Jordan Stolz celebrates after winning the gold medal in Speed Skating Men's 1000m during the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 in Milan Italy on February 2026  © Getty Images

Jordan Stolz (USA) finally beat Van Velde's record, winning the 1000m in 1:06.28. Van Velde's 24-year-old mark would have been good enough for bronze. 

In Milan, Van Velde was one of the most .successful coaches in Long Track Speed skating. His pupils Femke Kok (NED), Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong (NED), Jenning de Boo (NED) and Kjeld Nuis (NED) collected a total of two gold medals, four silvers and a bronze.

Olympic Records at Milano Speed Skating Stadium:

Miscellaneous facts