xandra velzeboer strikes gold again in milan
Milaan, maandag, 16 februari 2026.
xandra velzeboer claimed her second gold at the milan-cortina 2026 winter olympics, dominating the women’s 1000m short track final. the dutch athlete pulled ahead in the final laps, finishing in 1:28.437. canada’s courtney sarault took silver, republic of korea’s kim gilli earned bronze. home favourite arianna fontana narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth after a late-race bump. velzeboer’s victory solidifies the netherlands’ strength in short track, continuing their dominance in the discipline. the win marks her second individual gold following triumph in the 500m earlier in the games.
xandra velzeboer secures second olympic gold in 1000m final
Xandra Velzeboer won the women’s 1000m short track final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, securing her second gold medal of the tournament [1]. She completed the race in 1:28.437, narrowly defeating Canada’s Courtney Sarault, who finished in 1:28.523 [1][2]. Republic of Korea’s Kim Gilli claimed bronze with a time of 1:28.614 [1][2]. The event marked a dominant performance by Velzeboer, reinforcing the Netherlands’ growing reputation in short track speedskating [1][3].
close contest sees fontana miss podium by narrow margin
Italian favorite Arianna Fontana finished fourth in the 1000m final with a time of 1:28.745, missing the podium by less than 0.12 seconds [1][2]. Fontana reported being bumped by China’s Gong Li in the closing laps, disrupting her push for a medal [2][4]. “I was ready to go in the front,” Fontana said, expressing frustration at not having the opportunity to compete for a place [4]. Despite the setback, her performance drew strong support from the home crowd in Milan [1][4].
velzeboer builds momentum after 500m victory
This victory followed Velzeboer’s earlier gold in the 500m event on February 12, 2026, marking her second individual title at the Games [4][5]. Her consistent performance across distances highlights improved endurance and tactical execution [3][4]. “I’m just super happy that I could use my speed in a 1000m as well,” Velzeboer stated, reflecting on her adaptability [3]. The Netherlands now holds four short track medals, signaling a breakthrough in a historically competitive field [3][5].
international field underscores competitive depth
The final featured a highly competitive lineup including reigning world champion Courtney Sarault, who upgraded from bronze in the 500m to silver in the 1000m [2][4]. Kim Gilli, recovering from a semifinal fall, advanced due to opponent interference and secured her first Olympic medal [3]. American contender Kristen Santos-Griswold and former medalists Kim Boutin and Hwang Daeheon were eliminated in the quarterfinals, underscoring the event’s unpredictability [4]. The race reaffirmed the global depth in women’s short track speedskating [1][4].