Femke Kok Secures Olympic 500m Gold for the Netherlands

Milan, Italy – Femke Kok of the Netherlands won the gold medal in the women’s 500m speed skating event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan on Sunday, February 15, 2026. This victory marks the first Olympic gold for the Netherlands in this distance.

Record-Breaking Performance

Kok finished the race with a time of 36.49 seconds, surpassing the previous Olympic record of 36.94 seconds. She also broke her own sea-level record of 36.87 seconds. This win extends her impressive undefeated streak to 20 races over the past two years. NBC Olympics

Dutch Domination on the Podium

Kok’s teammate, Jutta Leerdam, secured the silver medal, finishing 0.66 seconds behind, representing the largest margin of victory in the event since 1972. The Dutch duo previously achieved a 1-2 finish in the 1000m on February 19, with Leerdam taking gold in that race. NBC Olympics

Kok’s Journey to Gold

Kok began the 2025-26 season by setting a new world record, improving upon the previous record that had stood since 2013. Her last defeat in the 500m came on February 3, 2024, when she won silver at a World Cup event behind South Korea’s Kim Min-Sun. NBC Olympics, ESPN

“This really is a relief. I’m so proud I made it happen,” Kok stated after the race. “This is what I dreamed about as a little girl, and that it happens today is so special.” NBC Olympics

Netherlands’ Medal Count

The Netherlands has now secured eight speed skating medals at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, more than twice the number of any other nation. Norway and Italy each have three medals, while the United States has two, both won by Jordan Stolz. NBC Olympics

Podium Finish

Japan’s Miho Takagi rounded out the podium with a bronze medal. Takagi, a seasoned middle-distance skater, has held the 1500m world record since 2019 and entered the Games as Japan’s most decorated Winter Olympian with six Olympic medals. NBC Olympics

Erin Jackson of the United States finished fifth in the race. ESPN