MILAN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Speed skating competitions at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games concluded here on Saturday with Ning Zhongyan producing a historic win for China, while traditional powerhouse the Netherlands extended its dominance.
CHINA'S LANDMARK TRIUMPH
Ning shattered a century-long Western grip on the men's 1500m, capturing gold in the event dubbed the "King's Race". Outpacing pre-Games favorite Jordan Stolz of the United States, who took silver, Ning delivered China's first Olympic title over the distance. His victory follows Zhang Hong's gold in the women's 1,000m at the Sochi Games in 2014 and Gao Tingyu's win in the men's 500m in Beijing in 2022.
"I always saw him as a mountain in front of me, and I just could not get past him. But today, in the Olympic 1500m, I finally climbed over that mountain," Ning said after upsetting Stolz, who had remained unbeaten in this distance at this season's World Cups. "I did it. The view from the top of the mountain is just beautiful."
Ning secured two additional bronze medals in the men's 1,000m and team pursuit, becoming China's most decorated Winter Olympian in speed skating.
China also achieved a best-ever finish in the men's team pursuit and showcased its expanding depth with 15 quota berths secured at these Games. While still developing in individual long distances, these results marked its most successful Olympic speed skating campaign since Ye Qiaobo's two silvers at the Albertville Games in 1992.
STOLZ SHINES, RECORDS TUMBLE
Despite the loss to Ning and a fourth-place finish in the mass start, pre-event star Jordan Stolz could be satisfied with double gold in the men's 500m and 1,000m.
"There are things that could have gone better, but two golds and a silver... I have got to be pretty happy with that," said Stolz. "You have to expect the unexpected. Everybody switches up when the Olympics come around and things change. I could have done a little better, but overall, it was successful."
Also in the men's field, Norway's world record holder Sander Eitrem fulfilled his promise with gold and a record-breaking performance in the men's 5,000m, while teen sensation Metodej Jilek made history as the first Czech man to win Olympic speed skating gold, taking 10,000m victory after 5,000m silver.
ITALIAN GLORY AND DUTCH DOMINANCE
35-year-old home favorite Francesca Lollobrigida thrilled the crowds with a golden double in the women's 3,000m and 5,000m. Drawing inspiration from compatriot Federica Brignone's double Alpine gold, she stated: "People may tell you it's impossible... but it is only us that really know how to make things possible."
The Netherlands, however, reaffirmed its dominance, topping the medals table with five golds, six silvers, and two bronzes, with Italy coming in a distant second with three golds and two silvers ahead of the United States with two golds, two silvers and a bronze.
Following Femke Kok and Jutta Leerdam's victories in the women's 500m and 1,000m, 30-year-old Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong won her first Olympic gold and continued a Dutch winning streak in the 1,500m that started at the Vancouver Games in 2010.
"It feels so incredible, it's so nice to be standing here. This medal means everything to me," said Rijpma-de Jong. "I already had (Olympic) silver and bronze medals, but Olympic gold was the one still missing. I'm so proud I did it. It can't get any better. It's insane."
Jorrit Bergsma and Marijke Groenewoud completed the Netherlands' golden run on the last medal day as they were crowned in the men's and women's mass start.
"My Games wasn't that good, so this is a perfect end for sure," said Groenewoud. "This was the perfect day for our team, also with the win of Jorrit. It couldn't get better."
TEAM TRIUMPHS AND MILESTONES
Ivanie Blondin, Valerie Maltais, and Isabelle Weidemann successfully defended their women's team pursuit title to earn Canada a gold medal.
"It's crazy. It feels amazing," said Maltais, who also took home two bronzes in the women's 1,500m and 3,000m. "We've talked about it, we knew there was some expectation. But defending a title, for us, it was more like focusing on ourselves and what we could do to be the fastest each time. Try to execute the race that we would be proud of at the end, whatever the result would be."
Japan's Miho Takagi added three bronze medals in the women's 500m, 1,000m and team pursuit, bringing her career Olympic tally to ten.
"There are parts where I have no regrets. When I look at it calmly, I can think, 'I worked really hard'. There were many moments when it would have been easy to give up, but I did not. In that sense, I feel I did well to get this far," said Takagi. ■
