Speed Skating at the Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026

[copravolley 635]

Tonight, 9 medals for Italy, but only 1 gold, which is as I expected It will be difficult to even get 5 gold medals at the end. The others have their dominators, and we are wasting our chances: Goggia and alpine snowboarding.

[copravolley 635]

2 minutes ago, Matteo92 said:

I think it's unlikely, but the chances went slightly up with today's race. He looked better than I expected, and he was closer to the podium than anticipated.

The problem is that Eitrem is stronger than Wiklund, who has her weaker moments. Eitrem is another cyborg, like Klaebo.

[Dennis 845]

22 hours ago, Dennis said:

Draw for the 5.000m Men (tomorrow 16:00 local time) is out: https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/results/ssk/st/m/5000m-------------/fnl-/000100--/race-result

 

After Lollobrigida’s incredible performance today, it’s honestly getting hard to bet against the Italians on home ice. That said, I still think Ghiotto’s real shot at Gold is the 10km, leaving the 5km wide open for some "untraditional" countries.

 

It’s truly bizarre to look at a start list and realize that a Czech teenager and a Frenchman are the heavy medal favorites, while the Dutch, who used to own this distance, can barely be called outsiders anymore. If you had told me a few years ago that this would be the state of the 5000m, I wouldn’t have believed it.

 

My prediction for tomorrow:

1. Sander Eitrem - The heavy favorite after shattering the World Record this season with a historic 5:58.52.
2. Timothy Loubineaud - A massive challenger who briefly held the World Record himself earlier this season with a 6:00.23.
3. Metoděj Jílek - A serious gold medal contender, but I’m worried this is the first time he’ll truly feel the weight of expectations from his home country after his breakout results.
4. Casey Dawson - A podium regular this year who is a strong contender for the top five.
5. Ted-Jan Bloemen - The veteran master of the long distances who always finds an extra gear on the big stage.
6. Davide Ghiotto - Facing massive home-crowd pressure in Milan to keep up with the younger generation.
7. Chris Huizinga - Currently looks like the strongest hope for the Dutch guard.
8. Alexander Farthofer - A rising talent who has successfully pushed his way into the top tier this season. 
9.  Riccardo Lorello - Another Italian hope looking to capitalize on the home-ice advantage.
10. Gabriel Groß - A solid mid-pack contender who has delivered reliable results throughout the winter.
11. Fridtjof Petzold - Has shown steady improvement and is now occasionally a fixture in the top half of the field. 
12. Marcel Bosker - Started the season incredibly strong at the Dutch Championships, but hasn't reached that level since.
13. Michele Malfatti - A home favorite who has been hovering just outside the lead group all season. 
14. Bart Swings - His legendary engine remains world-class, but his main focus is on the mass start.
15. Felix Maly - A consistent performer who provides a solid benchmark for the field. 
16. Sigurd Henriksen - Part of the deep Norwegian squad with the potential to surprise if others slip up.
17. Stijn van de Bunt - A massive breakout talent, but the Olympic depth makes moving up a huge challenge. 
18. Shomu Sasaki - A promising young skater gaining valuable experience on the world stage. 
19. Liu Hanbin - Honestly surprised to see him on the start list after that tough injury. It will be a victory just to finish. 
20. Peder Kongshaug - Finished dead last in his only A-group appearance this season and hasn't raced a competitive 5k in months. He's a 1500m specialist who might lack the form for this distance right now.

Fairly okay prediction. Three positive surprises:

 

•  Lorello: didn't think he would finish on the podium, benefitting from some favorites not showing what they were capable of earlier in the season.
•  Kongshaug: did expect him to purely skate this as a warm-up for the 1.500m, but he went all in and finished in front of some very strong names. He looks ready for the 1.500m and the team pursuit.
•  Van de Bunt: solid showing for him. Let's see if he can keep this up on the 10.000m.

 

And three negative surprises:

 

•  Bloemen: seems to have started too quickly, but based on the season so far, I expected better
•  Farthofer: started the season so strong, has such a strong personal record, but had hist worst showing of the season. He's still young, so hopefully he learns from this.
•  Petzold: also the worst showing of the season here in Milano. Looked poorly from the start, so I hope he's not sick or something.

[hckošice 16,579]

4 minutes ago, copravolley said:

Because without gold medals we won't be high in the medal table: as of today 9 medals, but only 1 gold medal. 

I feel your pain bro 

[hckošice 16,579]

Czechs can really skate without pucks it looks 

 

Congrats ! what a day bratři 

[Dennis 845]

Just now, hckošice said:

Czechs can really skate without pucks it looks 

 

Congrats ! what a day bratři 

Czechia doesn't have a long-track ice rink, but still win medals. When are the Slovakians coming through?

[Josh 13,454]

3 minutes ago, copravolley said:

Because without gold medals we won't be high in the medal table: as of today 9 medals, but only 1 gold medal. 

That was kind of us in Beijing, 26 medals but only 4 golds and… 13 bronzes  

 

We even set a record for most bronzes in a winter Olympic Games

[copravolley 635]

1 minute ago, hckošice said:

I feel your pain bro 

We will finish with 20/25 medals, including probably 2/3 golds  

[hckošice 16,579]

1 minute ago, Dennis said:

Czechia doesn't have a long-track ice rink, but still win medals. When are the Slovakians coming through?

Good question. Perhaps, once our bumbs in charge of sport will realize it is an olympic sport

[copravolley 635]

1 minute ago, Josh said:

That was kind of us in Beijing, 26 medals but only 4 golds and… 13 bronzes  

 

We even set a record for most bronzes in a winter Olympic Games

Italy in Bejing: 17 medals with 2 gold... We can't win in winter sports.