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Some skaters make their Olympic debuts when still young and unexperienced, while for others the road to their sport’s biggest event can be long and frequently bumpy. But for all debutants, qualifying for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 is a dream come true.

Beune's belated breakthrough

Joy Beune (NED), pictured above, is one of the most decorated speed skaters ever to make their debut at the Olympic Games. The 26-year-old Dutchwoman has already won three individual World Single Distance Titles, two World titles in Team Pursuit and the World Allround title in 2024, but only now gets the chance to add an Olympic medal to that impressive resumé.

After failing to qualify for the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, Beune did manage to seize a 3000m berth for Milan 2026, but missed out on a 1500m ticket at the Dutch trials, despite having won all four 1500m World Cup races she competed in this season. 

Jumping for Joy: Beune celebrates 1500m ISU World Championship gold in March 2025 © ISU

Veteran skater Miho Takagi (JPN), who made her Olympic debut aged 15 at the Vancouver Games in 2010, regrets the absence of her Dutch 1500m rival in Milan. 

"Yet it also made me realize that it's not normal to compete at the Olympic Games. It's really special and I have to enjoy it,” said the Japanese skater.

Beune hopes to enjoy her 3000m race on the first day of Milan 2026, and she'll also compete in the Team Pursuit in the second week of the Games.

The six-minute man 

Sander Eitrem (NOR) is also one of the more experienced debutants in Milan. The Norwegian, who celebrate his 24^th birthday during the Games (12 February), is the red-hot favorite for the 5000m on Sunday 8 February after he became the first man in history to complete the distance under six minutes. 

The Norwegian covered the 5km in 5 minutes and 58.52s in Inzell, Germany, just two weeks ahead of the Olympic Games. 

A stunned Sander Eitrem (NOR) realises his achievement in breaking the six-minute mark for the 5000m in January 2026 © ISU

Most of Eitrem's challengers in the long distances (5000m and 10,000m) are Olympic debutants too. Czech youngster Metoděj Jílek (19) won this season's long-distance World Cup, and Polish Vladimir Semirunniy (23) took the European 5000m title in Tomaszów Mazowiecki in January. 

Timothy Loubineaud (29) is another debutant in the 5000m. The former inline skater from France narrowly missed out on qualification for the 2022 Olympics, but this season he's emerged as one of the strongest long-distance skaters. 

Before Eitrem shattered the six-minute barrier in the 5000m, Loubineaud broke the World Record in Salt Lake City last November.

Dutchmen Chris Huizinga (28) and Stijn van de Bunt (21) also make their debut. Van de Bunt skated his career first World Cup races in Inzell, just two weeks ahead of the Olympic Games in Milan.

Youth and experience

Other Olympic debutants to look out for include Finn Sonnekalb (GER), Lee Na-Hyun (KOR), Serena Pergher (ITA), Jenning de Boo (NED), Joep Wennemars (NED) and Cooper McLeod (USA).

Sonnekalb does have some Olympic experience, however. The 18-year-old German, still eligible as a junior, won three gold medals at the Youth Olympic Winter Games in Gangwon 2024.

18-year-old Finn Sonnekalb (GER) announced his arrival at the senior World Cup by winning two medals © ISU

This season, Sonnekalb skated in the senior World Cup series - winning one silver and one bronze medal - and broke the 1500m Junior World Record in Salt Lake City last November. 

The previous junior record holder was Jordan Stolz (USA), who is favored to win the 500m, 1000m and 1500m in Milan. Stolz is no Olympic debutant, however: he finished 13th in the 500m and 14th in the 1000m at the age of 17 four years ago in Beijing.