Xandra Velzeboer (NED) made no mistakes on the first day of medals at the 2026 ISU Short Track European Championships in Tilburg, Netherlands. She claimed the women’s 1000m title ahead of her sister Michelle Velzeboer (NED) in second place, before the two were part of the Netherlands team winning gold in the women’s 3000m relay.

“I don’t think it could have gone any better. Two times gold and I did some solid races,” Xandra Velzeboer said.

“I have rested now and feel in my legs that I can give a little extra. I hope to be at my best at the Olympics, of course, but it’s nice to feel that I can already be a little bit better now.”

The 24-year-old figurehead of the event has had a remarkable four seasons since picking up the women’s relay gold medal at Beijing 2022.

Out on her own: Xandra Velzeboer (NED) in action at the 2026 ISU European Short Track Championships in Tilburg, Netherlands © ISU

She broke the world 500m record in November 2022 and became world champion in that distance – her best – in 2022, 2023 and again in 2025, while also developing into a true three-distance athlete.

She became a 1000m world champion in 2023 and scooped her first major 1500m title at the European Championships one year ago.

Saturday’s feat, however, was something she had not achieved before.

“It’s my first European title in the 1000m, which is really exciting,” Velzeboer said.

“These Europeans feel like a preparation for the Games, but there are still titles to win here and I’m super happy that I won this one.”

Flying the flag: Xandra (left) and Michelle Velzeboer (NED) enjoy the moment in Tilburg, Netherlands © ISU

In the 1000m final, she crossed the line 0.077s ahead of her younger sister, as Elisa Confortola of Italy claimed bronze.

“It’s super nice to be together on the podium like this – gold and silver, I think it can’t get any better. We raced well and it was just very nice,” Xandra Velzeboer said.

“In the beginning I was choosing a position a little. I was in the lead with four or five laps to go and felt confident that I could finish it strongly. I also took a lot of leads in the races before and got a good feeling so it was nice that I could finish it fast.”

The Netherlands' Xandra Velzeboer (left) and her sister Michelle Velzeboer, who completed a 1-2 in the 1000m at the 2026 ISU European Short Track Championships in Tilburg, Netherlands © ISU

She did not know that her 22-year-old sister was in second place until after the race.

“It’s always hard; you feel people behind you and can’t always see who it is, but when I crossed the finish line I saw it was her and it was super cool.”

The silver medal was the first in a major championships for Michelle Velzeboer, who reached the 500m final at last year’s European Championships in Dresden, Germany, but had to settle for fourth place after a fall.

“I feel really good,” she said.

Elisa Confortola (ITA) in action at the 2026 ISU European Short Track Championships in Tilburg, Netherlands © ISU

“It’s my first European individual medal, so I’m really happy with that. Last year I had a bit of bad luck in the 500m, so it feels good to finally get that medal.

“The quarterfinal was really hard because Elisa and Xandra were there too, so it was a bit of bad luck. But we made it through and I think it’s really nice that we got to race each other in the final.

“I’m really happy with my own racing. I skated really clean lines and felt really good, so I’m really happy.”

Michelle Velzeboer (NED) acknowledges her home crowd at the 2026 ISU European Short Track Championships in Tilburg, Netherlands © ISU

She did not hide the fact that she would have pipped her sister to the title had she been able.

“I always go for the win so I tried a bit in the finish, but she was a bit stronger today,” Michelle Velzeboer said.

“It’s really nice to share it with her because we always do everything together and that you then can stand on the podium together, that makes the whole hard work pay off.”

(L-R) Michelle Velzeboer (NED), Xandra Velzeboer (NED) and Elisa Confortola (ITA) pose for a photo after the 1000m in Tilburg, Netherlands © ISU

In the women’s 3000m final, the Velzeboer sisters teamed up with Selma Poutsma and Zoe Deltrap to battle it out with Italy (Confortola, Chiara Betti, Martina Valcepina and Arianna Fontana) for the gold medal after an early collision ruled out Hungary and France from the top spots.

“I feel really good. It’s really nice to finish the day off with a gold in the relay, but I’m also really happy with my 1000m. It was an exciting day,” Michelle Velzeboer said, praising the home fans in the packed IJssportcentrum.

“It’s really nice to skate in front of the home crowd. Everyone’s really excited so you can hear the cheers throughout the whole race, that’s really nice and makes you excited.

Team Netherlands celebrate their European title in the 3000m relay in Tilburg, Netherlands © ISU

“It was a bit too bad that the other two teams fell so early in the race but you still had to go on and try to make that win, so I’m happy that we managed to do that and now we can work towards the (Olympic) Games, which I’m also excited about.”

Her sister agreed:

“It was sad for the race that the two teams fell in the beginning, but it was really Italy and us for the gold. That was exciting until the very end and we are really happy that we could finish it like this.”

Confortola made it back-to-back 1000m European Championships bronze medals and bagged a silver in the relay but still felt there is much left to do before the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games Short Track starts on 10 February.

“It’s good. We didn’t come here with the best shape but it is good to be there and fight for a medal,” she said.

“It was maybe not the final I was hoping for but still, a good race, and even though I’m not at the top of my shape I can skate with the others, fight with them, and make passes. And the time was really good, from the quarters to the final, so I’m satisfied.”

A moment to savor: Team Italy acknowledges the crowd in Tilburg, Netherlands © ISU

She said she has no recipe for beating the Dutch skaters right now.

“I don’t know,” Confortola said.

“For now, they’re really good, especially Xandra. She’s been at this level for so many years and knows how to race, skate, block, and lead some laps in the end.

“We still have some time to adjust some things but I had pretty good races last season and this one, so I need to be relaxed and do the best I can.”

If the Milano Cortina 2026 women’s relay will be anything like Saturday’s battle between Italy and the Netherlands, Olympic Short Track fans are in for a treat.

“We came up with just two teams at the end and we tried our best,” Confortola said.

“They did pretty good exchanges, we tried to pass but I don’t know, we didn’t know what to do. In the end, we tried, but France were in the way.

“But it was a good relay. Everyone is trying new things. We were fighting for the gold medal but it’s a silver medal, so it’s OK.”

The 2026 ISU European Short Track Championships 3000m relay podium in Tilburg, Netherlands © ISU

Hungary, represented by Sara Bacskai, Diana Vegi, Rebeka Sziliczei-Nemet and Maja Somodi, claimed the relay bronze medal, crossing the finish line more than 20 seconds behind the two top teams.

“We are happy with the result but not with the way we achieved it,” Sziliczei-Nemet said.

“We had been looking forward to this race and really wanted to have a fight with the French team after all the World Cups where we hadn’t had the chance to fight with them for the Olympic spot.

“In the end, we couldn’t really race this time either but we’re really happy about the medal and about this third place.”

The women’s competitions conclude on Sunday with the 1500m and 500m finals.

Where to watch the ISU Short Track European Championships 2026