Jens van ‘t Wout Secures Second Olympic Gold in Short Track Speedskating
MILAN, Italy – Dutch short track speedskater Jens van ‘t Wout added to his impressive Olympic medal count, winning gold in the 1,500-meter event at the Milan Cortina Games on Saturday, February 14, 2026. This victory comes just days after he claimed gold in the 1,000-meter race, marking a dominant performance for the 24-year-vintage skater.
Race Recap
Van ‘t Wout finished the 1,500-meter race in a time of 2 minutes, 12.219 seconds, securing the top spot on the podium. South Korea’s Daeheon Hwang took silver with a time of 2:12.304, while Roberts Kruzbergs of Latvia earned bronze. Canadian short track star William Dandjinou finished fifth.
A Crowded Final
The final race featured an unusually large field of nine skaters due to a series of penalties and crashes in the semifinal rounds. Van ‘t Wout skillfully navigated the crowded ice, avoiding stumbles and maneuvering into first place.
Historic Achievement for the Netherlands
Van ‘t Wout’s gold in the 1,000-meter event was a historic moment for the Netherlands, representing their first-ever Olympic medal and gold in the men’s 1000m. At the 2026 Games, the Dutch team has claimed three of the four gold medals awarded in short track speedskating so far.
Van ‘t Wout’s Unique Distinction
Adding to his unique story, Van ‘t Wout sports a gold tooth, a result of a skating accident seven years prior.
Other Notable Results
Daeheon Hwang, the gold medalist in the 2022 Beijing Games, settled for silver. William Dandjinou, who entered the Olympics as a gold medal favorite, finished fifth. American skaters Andrew Heo and Brandon Kim finished 2nd and 6th, respectively, in the B Final.
Looking Ahead
The Canadian men’s relay squad will compete for their fifth Olympic gold in the men’s relay on February 16 and February 20.