Europe’s finest Short Track speed skaters gather at the IJssportcentrum, Tilburg from 16 to 18 January – with ISU European Championship medals on the line, and fine-tuning for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games to be done. 

Dutch skaters Xandra Velzeboer (pictured top) and Jens van ’t Wout, both hopeful of Olympic glory, will lead the home charge, but anticipate a tussle with Italy, whose squad has strengthened significantly since last year.

Velzeboer seeks to reinforce five-fronted medal threat 

The Netherlands’ top Short Tracker, Xandra Velzeboer, has had a remarkable four seasons since picking up the women’s relay gold medal at Beijing 2022. 

She broke the world 500m record in November 2022. She became World Champion in her best distance, the 500m, in 2022, 2023 and 2025. And she has become near-unbeatable in the sprint on the ISU Short Track World Tour, where she loves to hit the first corner in front and turn on some blistering speed.

Just as impressively, Velzeboer has become a true three-distance athlete. She was 1000m World Champion in 2024, and scooped her first ever major 1500m title, in these European Championships, last term. 

She’s a superb relay racer – combining well with her sister Michelle Velzeboer (NED) in the women’s 3000m relay and in the mixed relay, and could potentially leave the Euros – and indeed the Olympics – with a clutch of medals.

Xandra Velzeboer (NED) in mixed relay action at the 2025 ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Beijing, China © ISU

Michelle is also a fine sprinter, and could threaten the podium in the 500m, while Selma Poutsma (NED) is another speed demon, who pre-injury was matching Xandra in many races. 

The next-best ranked European after Velzeboer, Belgium’s Hanne Desmet, will not compete in Tilburg, so expect Italy to offer the sternest competition.

Arianna Fontana (ITA) needs no introduction and is the most decorated Short Tracker ever at the European Championships (she won a record seven overall titles, although that prize is no longer contested).

Fontana, about to enter Milano Cortina 2026 as flagbearer, Italy’s most decorated winter Olympian and ‘face of the Games’, was hoping to compete in both Short Track and Speed Skating at her second home Olympics – having appeared at Torino 2006 at the age of 15 – but hasn’t qualified on the larger oval.

She will now dedicate herself to trying for a third consecutive Olympic gold. Despite recent injury, expect her to be going full throttle here.

Italy's Short Track legend, Arianna Fontana, seen here at the ISU Short Track World Tour #6 in Milan, Italy, in February 2025 © ISU

Her young teammates have also made an impression at recent Euros. Elisa Confortola got gold in the 1500m in 2024, and two bronzes last year. Gloria Ioriatti, a substitute in Tilburg, has won consecutive silvers in the 1500m, and Chiara Betti scooped 500m bronze in 2025. All three have looked sharp this season.

The big recent news in women’s Short Track? The return of three-time Olympic gold medallist Suzanne Schulting. 

She has been concentrating on Speed Skating over recent seasons, and will race at Milano Cortina 2026 on the longer oval, but has recently been added to the Dutch Olympic squad for Short Track too, where she will race the 1500m. However, she is listed as a substitute in Tilburg this weekend.

Suzanne Schulting (NED) looks on during the 2025 ISU World Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands © ISU

Italian and Dutch men face another shootout

It’s been a funny old season for Jens van ’t Wout. The Dutch sensation had finished 2024/25 with a world ranking of No.2, but was continually frustrated in this year’s shorter, four-event ISU Short Track World Tour.

One bout of illness and several of poor luck meant he didn’t replicate his results from previous iterations in 2025/26 – but, oddly enough, he can still look forward to the Euros and Olympics with optimism. 

Van ’t Wout says he is feeling fitter than ever after a great summer of training, and his sharpness was evident at the last ISU Short Track World Tour event in Dordrecht (NED).

Like Velzeboer, he’s got a true shot at five medals here – and at the Games – and he’s a bustling, risk-taking racer over all three individual distances. He will defend both the 500m and 1500m titles in Tilburg.

Dutchman Jens van ’t Wout celebrates Team Netherlands' mixed relay victory at the ISU Short Track World Tour in Dordrecht, Netherlands, last November © ISU

The Dutchman will also be buoyed by the heart-warming return of his elder brother Melle – a hugely promising racer whose career has been decimated by injury over recent years. 

Melle’s individual results have been steadily improving over his comeback season and, once fully fit, he could again be matching the exploits of his all-conquering brother. Are the Euros too soon for that to happen?

Recent Euros have featured Van ’t Wout duel thrillingly with Pietro Sighel of Italy. The pair are very similar racers in stature and their aggressive nature, and versatile enough to triumph across the three distances. 

Sighel finished as overall No.2 this season, battling well with ISU Crystal Globe winner William Dandjinou of Canada, and at last season’s European Championships in Dresden (GER), the Italian won the 1000m and was second to Van ’t Wout in the 500m. He is also a man for the big occasion. Expect the margins to be razor-thin this time around. 

Pietro Sighel of Italy competes at the ISU Short Track World Tour in Dordrecht, Netherlands, last November © ISU

Also entering the conversation this season has been Italy’s Thomas Nadalini. A powerhouse in the mould of the legendary Wu Dajing of China, he won his first ISU Short Track World Tour in Gdansk (POL) last November, a silver in the 1500m, and looks to be peaking at just the right time for his home Olympics; Luca Spechenhauser, a bronze medalist in these championships in the 1000m, will also be seeking the podium. 

Who else to watch?  Roberts Kruzbergs of Latvia, and Michal Niewinski of Poland have had quieter seasons than usual but are strong enough to make podiums here. 

Likewise Quentin Fercoq of France and Niall Treacy of Great Britain can have their moments, while  Friso Emons – a Tilburg native – and Teun Boer are celebrating selection for the Dutch Olympic squad and could make a mark in front of a partisan crowd.

Where to watch