Dutch Dominate Short Track at Milan-Cortina Olympics, Securing Historic Relay Gold
Milan, Italy – The Netherlands cemented their dominance in short track speed skating at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Games, winning gold in the men’s 5000-meter relay on Friday, February 20, 2026. This victory marked the nation’s fifth gold medal in short track and their first-ever Olympic gold in the relay event [Flashscore].
A Golden Performance
The Dutch quartet of Jens van ‘t Wout, Melle van ‘t Wout, Teun Boer, and Friso Emons outpaced strong competition from South Korea and Italy to claim the top spot on the podium [Flashscore]. Jens van ‘t Wout, a two-time Olympic champion, played a key role in the team’s success, initially taking the lead from Canada.
Tactical Race and Canadian Setback
The final race was described as a long and tactical battle, with the Netherlands, Canada, South Korea, and Italy vying for the gold medal [Flashscore]. Canada, led by Olympic champion Steven Dubois, briefly held the lead but encountered difficulties and fell back in the standings. South Korea mounted a significant challenge, putting pressure on the Dutch team, but the Netherlands ultimately maintained their lead with Melle van ‘t Wout securing the advantage with seven laps remaining.
Historic First for the Netherlands
This win represents a historic achievement for the Netherlands, marking their first-ever gold medal in the Olympic relay event [Flashscore]. South Korea took silver, and Italy secured the bronze medal.
Van ‘t Wout’s Continued Success
Jens van ‘t Wout’s victory adds to his impressive Olympic performance, having already secured gold in the 1,500-meter short track speedskating on Saturday, February 14, 2026 [ESPN] and the 1,000m earlier in the Games. He finished the 1,500m in 2 minutes, 12.219 seconds [ESPN].
Semifinal Drama
The semifinals were marked by dramatic events, including a fall involving Hungary and multiple skaters from Canada, Italy, and China. The fall was reviewed, but no penalties were assessed [Flashscore].
Jens van ‘t Wout celebrates during the short track speed skating men’s 5000 meters relay final at the 2026 Winter Olympics [AP News].