Emotions reached fever pitch at the final leg of the ISU Short Track World Tour in Dordrecht, Netherlands in late November.

Nowhere was this more evident than in the battles between the men’s and women’s relay teams ranked roughly between sixth and eleventh. 

All of them knew that a stellar weekend would mean that their teams would make it into the top eight, and therefore book a ticket to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. 

Others knew that if disaster struck, they would not be walking out at the San Siro for the Olympic Games opening ceremony in the new year. 

It is the stuff of dreams and nightmares, and in the end Hungary and Belgium’s men, and France’s women, were the teams that grabbed the glory – sometimes in the very last laps of the season’s concluding race.

Where dreams came true...for some: Optisport Sportboulevard during the ISU Short Track World Tour in Dordrecht, Netherlands © ISU

French women snatch victory from jaws of defeat 

Perhaps the most dramatic moment in Dordrecht was the women’s relay B final. 

Poland and Hungary seemed more likely than a young French squad to make it through. But then those two nations collided late in the race, writing off their chances. 

The French just had to stay on their skates to collect enough points to finish eighth in the standings, leaving Hungary ninth and Poland 10th.

“On the ice you are almost doing maths,” said Berenice Comby of the French Roosters. 

Berenice Comby of the French Roosters in action at the ISU Short Track World Tour #4 in Dordrecht, Netherlands © ISU

“We saw Poland and Hungary crashing and we knew the result was dependent on them, so when they fell you are just thinking ‘stay on your feet, stay safe, secure that second spot, it is enough to go through’. 

“People might say ‘we don’t look at the points’. But we do, we calculate every single scenario. We know in the semi-final if we get to the A final then it’s done. But then in the B final, we had to beat them. To do it in the very, very last race of the season is amazing.

“I think it is the first time the French women make it to the Olympics in the relay. We are an extremely young team, our average age is 21, so to make the Olympics is such a relief, such an accomplishment. We are so happy.”

Teammate Cloe Ollivier added: “We are so excited. We are young but we’ve all been skating for a lot of years, and this is the best moment of our careers. 

“For any athlete, getting to the Olympics is the ultimate, the best moment. Now we want to go and show what we are capable of. 

“In the beginning of the year, if you’d said to us that you will be at the Olympics with this team, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

Cloe Ollivier (FRA) competes in the 1500m at the 2025 ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Beijing, China © ISU

Belgian and Hungarian training crew head to Milano together 

Belgium have been knocking at the door of the Olympic men’s relay for three cycles; for 2026, they have finally been let in. 

“2002 was the last time Belgium made it to the Olympics to do the relay, and, since 2018, Stijn [Desmet] and I have been trying to get us back there,” said Ward Petre, after the Ice Bears clinched their place. 

“In 2018 we were young – 20 and 21 – but we came ninth, and didn’t go. In 2022, we were older. I had an accident with a teammate. He almost died from blood lost, and I tore my leg open, so we were not well prepared.

“It was a little heartbreaking because Stijn was in great shape. We came ninth again. That was really painful. You can taste the Olympics. Being denied it is really hard. But it kept us motivated.”

Since then, the Belgians have tried various routes to up their game. Desmet (along with sister Hanne) trained with the Netherlands. Others relocated to Canada. Then the squad moved to Budapest, where they have become great friends, and encouraging training partners, with Team Hungary.  

“We’ve really close as a team. When I got married, everyone from the team was there, Hanne was my best man – the best girl!” Petre said. “I don’t think there are many teams as close as us, so getting to the Olympics all together was the goal. It is much more special going as a group. 

“So to make the top eight here is really special. The third time is the charm. It’s been a huge motivation. I have put a lot of things aside to accomplish this goal. I got married in April and I’ve seen my wife for about eight weeks of those eight months.

“We had to really dig deep this summer, moving to a new place. But achieving what we achieved now, it is really worth it.” 

Hungary, meanwhile, ended up with divided emotions. There was joy for the men’s side, who qualified, and frustration for the women, who took that tumble in their final race. 

“I don’t know how I feel right now,” admitted Peter Jaszapati. “It was hard to watch the girls. We were rooting for them as they were rooting for us, all year long. We are a team so it would have been amazing to all go to the Games together.

“For the men, it is amazing.  We had some luck with the Canadians crashing, but that’s part of racing.

“As a team, we have put in a lot into this. Last year we were in the top 12 to go to the World Champs but the team was injured and we didn’t do the relay. So to be here right now is incredible. I hope Milan is going to be amazing.”

Hungary coach Nicky Gooch agrees. “It’s really painful for the girls, and a great feeling for the boys,” he said. “The Belgian men train with us on a daily basis so it’s important for both teams. If one team had gone and the other hadn’t, it would have made training more difficult.

“There are so many variables, so many things you can’t control, so there are real mixed emotions.”

 For the lucky nations, their next challenge at Milano Cortina 2026 awaits.