The Netherlands celebrated a spectacular double in the mass start speed skating events at the Milano Cortina 2026, as Marijke Groenewoud and Jorrit Bergsma powered to gold within half an hour of each other.
Groenewoud delivered a perfectly timed performance in the women’s 16-lap race, collecting 60 sprint points and finishing in 8:34.70 to secure her first Olympic title. Canada’s Ivanie Blondin claimed silver with 40 points, while American skater Mia Manganello took bronze in her final Winter Olympics appearance. The victory underlined Dutch dominance in the discipline on speed skating’s biggest stage.
Soon after, 40-year-old veteran Bergsma added another golden chapter to his storied career by winning the men’s mass start in 7:55.50. He finished ahead of Denmark’s Viktor Hald Thorup and Italy’s Andrea Giovannini. Bergsma, who also earned 10,000m bronze earlier in the Games, denied American star Jordan Stolz a historic third long-track gold.
Together, Groenewoud and Bergsma’s triumphs sealed a memorable Dutch sweep and reaffirmed the nation’s enduring speed skating legacy.
