Netherlands Make Speed Skating History with 500m Gold

Femke Kok completes perfect season with olympic 500m win

Netherlands becomes first country to win gold across all classic speed skating distances after Femke Kok's 500m win.

Femke Kok dominated the women's 500m speed skating event...

Femke Kok wrapped up an incredible season with a gold medal win in the women's 500m speed skating event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, setting an Olympic record time of 36.49 seconds. This victory marked her first Olympic gold medal and made the Netherlands the first country to win gold across all classic speed skating distances.

Kok dominated the competition, beating compatriot Jutta Leerdam by 0.66 seconds and Japan's Miho Takagi, who took bronze. American Erin Jackson, the defending Olympic champion, finished fifth.

Kok's winning streak includes every 500m race in the ISU World Cup this year, with each win by at least 0.26 seconds, and a world record broken in Salt Lake City in November.

Femke Kok dominated the women's 500m speed skating event, shattering the Olympic record with a stunning time of 36.49 seconds. She left second-place Jutta Leerdam in the dust, beating her by an incredible 0.66 seconds. Meanwhile, defending champion Erin Jackson missed the podium, finishing fifth with a time of 37.32 seconds.

Miho Takagi, Japan's speed skating legend, secured bronze in the 500m despite being drawn early. Her 37.27 time was impressive, especially considering she hadn't raced the distance in a World Cup this season. This adds to her collection, marking her ninth Olympic medal.

Jutta Leerdam set the bar high in heat 12 with a 37.15 time, throwing her hat in the ring for a medal. She ultimately took silver behind Femke Kok, flipping their 1000m positions.

No, Femke Kok won 🥇 pic.twitter.com/yR0ZOEYAbG

— Néerlandaise@Maxime van Oosten (@Neerlandaise01) February 15, 2026

A Historic Milestone in Speed Skating

The Netherlands has made history in speed skating by becoming the first country to complete the Olympic speed skating bingo card in both men's and women's events. This achievement is a testament to the country's dominance in the sport, having won over 20% of all speed skating medals at the Winter Olympics.

Breaking the 500m Barrier

The Netherlands had never won a medal better than bronze at the 500m, with Margot Boer finishing third in 2014. However, Femke Kok's gold medal win in the women's 500m has changed that, marking a significant breakthrough for the country.