Milan 2026 Speed Skating: Dutch Speed Skaters Shine as TeamNL Dominates Sprint Distances
MILAN – The ice at the Oval Lingotto is glowing orange as the Netherlands continues to deliver strong performances at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games. With Femke Kok making history in the 500m and Jutta Leerdam securing silver, TeamNL enters another crucial race day with momentum on their side.
📋 Article Highlights
Femke Kok & Jutta Leerdam: Highlights From the Oval
The first week of the Games brought mixed emotions but major success for the Dutch women. Femke Kok made history by becoming the first Dutch woman to win Olympic gold in the 500m, clocking a spectacular 36.49 seconds and breaking the long-standing sprint barrier.
Following her performance, Jutta Leerdam delivered a powerful race in the 500m, securing the silver medal behind Kok. Leerdam, racing in front of enthusiastic Dutch supporters, showed exceptional form and consistency.
“We’re pushing the level of women’s sprinting to a new place,” Leerdam told NOS. “The energy from the fans keeps us going.”
Race Day Preview: Men’s 500m & Short Track Relay
Today, February 18, 2026, is another important competition day for TeamNL. While not a guaranteed record-breaking day, Dutch athletes are positioned to fight for more podium finishes.
🚀 Men’s 500m: A Battle With World-Class Sprinters
The men’s 500m will feature top international sprinters, with strong performances expected from athletes such as American star Jordan Stolz. Dutch skaters aim to challenge for the podium, although no clear Dutch favorite has emerged in this distance.
🔥 Women’s 3000m Relay (Short Track)
The Dutch women’s short track team — featuring talents like Xandra Velzeboer — enters the relay with strong form after earlier medal successes. They face intense competition from South Korea and Canada, making the final unpredictable but thrilling.
The Short Track Revolution: From Underdogs to Giants
While the Netherlands has historically dominated long track events, the 2026 Games highlight the nation’s rapid rise in short track. Investments in Heerenveen’s Thialf training center and a new generation of versatile skaters have transformed the team’s competitive edge.
“It’s technically two different sports, but the mentality overlaps,” says national coach Jeroen Otter. The combination of speed, tactical training, and improved facilities is producing world-class results.
📊 Medal Table Snapshot (Feb 18, 2026)
As of this morning, Norway remains at the top of the medal table, with the Netherlands positioned closely behind in the overall standings.
| Rank | Country | 🥇 Gold | 🥈 Silver | 🥉 Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇳🇴 Norway | 9 | 5 | 4 | 18 |
| 2 | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 6 | 6 | 3 | 15 |
| 3 | 🇺🇸 USA | 6 | 7 | 5 | 18 |
🇳🇱 Where to Watch & Celebrate
If you are in the Netherlands, “Orange Fever” continues with excitement across the country.
- TV: Live coverage on NOS Studio Sport (NPO 1) throughout the day.
- Public Viewing: Large screens at Museumplein (Amsterdam) and Grote Markt (Groningen).
- Ceremonies: Medal celebrations at the Holland Heineken House in Milan at 22:00, streamed live on NOS.nl.
🇳🇱 Dutch Learning Corner: Winter Olympics Edition
| Dutch Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ⛸️ Schaatsen | S-khaat-sen | Ice skating (The national passion). |
| 🥇 Gouden plak | Gow-den plak | Gold medal (Informal/Slang). |
| 🧡 Oranjekoorts | O-ran-ye-koorts | “Orange Fever” (The Olympic excitement). |
| 🎉 Huldiging | Hul-di-ging | Ceremony/Honoring (Usually at Heineken House). |
| 🏁 Persoonlijk Record (PR) | Per-soon-lek re-kor | Personal Best (Often seen on scoreboards). |
📚 Verified Sources & References
This article is based on the official schedule and results of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
- Official Results: Milan Cortina 2026 Official Site
- Team Updates: TeamNL.org (KNSB)
- Broadcast Data: NOS Studio Sport & Eurosport
- Analysis provided by The Dutch Daily Sports Desk.
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