For more information about Speed Skating in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, please check here.

Following his convincing victory in the 5000m, Sander Eitrem (NOR) will start Friday's 10,000m as favorite, but the double-distance is a different ballgame. 

With only 12 skaters, the field is small, but the level is extremely high. Eitrem faces two former Olympic Champions, the World Champion and World Record holder, and the European Champion at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium.

Keep it simple, Sander

Eitrem already knows the recipe for gold at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. 

"The key was to be relaxed and think about it as a normal race. If I do that, I can skate fast. I do not have to overcomplicate things, just keep it simple,” he said after his 5000m win.

Sander Eitrem (NOR) celebrates 5000m gold in Milan on Saturday. He faces stiff competition in his quest to double up in the 10,000m on Friday © Getty Images

Even if he manages to keep it simple in the 10,000m, the bar will be high. 

Jílek the main threat

Despite the qualifications of the decorated skaters listed above, Eitrem's main rival may well be Metoděj Jílek. The Czech youngster, who had a scholarship in the ISU Development Program as a junior skater, won the only 10,000m race in this year's long distance World Cup in Heerenveen, beating World Record holder and World Champion Davide Ghiotto (ITA) by a 3.74s margin. Eitrem himself finished 11.71s behind in fourth place.

Metoděj Jílek (CZE) on his way to winning the only 10,000m race of this World Cup season in Heerenveen (NED) © ISU

Timothy Loubineaud (FRA), who finished on four out of five long-distance World Cup podiums this season, took bronze in that 10,000m World Cup. The Frenchman, who held the 5000m World Record before Eitrem was the first man ever to skate under six minutes in the distance in Inzell a little over two weeks ago, hopes to make amends for his fifth-place finish in the Olympic 5000m on Saturday.

European Champion Vladimir Semirunniy (POL) is another podium candidate in the 10,000m. The Polish endurance specialist just missed out on qualification for the Olympic 5000m because of a lousy start to the World Cup season, but he did skate the fastest 10,000m time of the season. While Jílek was winning the World Cup A Division race in Heerenveen, Semirunniy won the B Division in a track record time of 12 minutes and 28.05s.

Ghiotto's favorite distance

Home favorite Ghiotto is the man who broke the World Record that now retired Nils van der Poel (SWE) set at the Olympic Games four years ago in Beijing, when he skated a time of 12 minutes and 25.69s in Calgary last season. 

Davide Ghiotto (ITA) enjoyed competing on home ice in the Olympic 5,000m but the 10,000m is his main focus © Getty Images

This season, Ghiotto has not found his rhythm quite yet. He was disappointed after finishing just outside the podium in the 5000m on home ice last Sunday, but the double-distance is his favorite, something he stressed after his 5000m race.

"The emotion is very high today. I have a good feeling now for the 10k [10,000m] next week. That's my big focus here,” the Italian said.

Olympic legends return

Friday's 10,000m draw will also feature two true legends of the sport. 2014 Olympic 10,000m Champion Jorrit Bergsma (NED), and 2018 Olympic Champion Ted-Jan Bloemen (CAN).

Veterans Jorrit Bergsma (NED) and Ted-Jan Bloemen (CAN) have both experienced Olympic 10,000m glory © ISU

Having celebrated his 40th birthday on 1 February, Bergsma is the oldest competitor in long track speed skating in Milan. As a spectator, Bergsma had enjoyed Eitrem's impressive World Record and Olympic 5000m races.

"To see Eitrem skate under six minutes and write history, it's great to be part of that,“ he said.

The Dutch veteran considers himself an outsider for a medal.

"Whatever the opponents do, I just hope to skate a good race myself."

Bloemen, who took the 10,000m title in 2018, finished 13th in Sunday's 5000m. He hopes to shine one more time on the Olympic stage to share the experience with his children.

"They're three- and six-year-olds,” he said. “I don't know how much memory you make when you're three years old, but I hope they can remember it."

The draw

Ghiotto will skate against Semirunniy in the third pair, while Bergsma and Bloemen reopen the competition after the halftime ice-cleaning break. 

Jílek takes on Casey Dawson (USA) in the penultimate paring, and Eitrem will skate in the final heat against Loubineaud.

The numbers

• World Record: 12:25.69 Davide Ghiotto (ITA), Calgary 25 January 2025
• Olympic Record: 12:30.74 Nils van der Poel (SWE), Beijing 11 February 2022
• Track record: No track record yet
• Number of skaters competing: 12
• Number of delegations represented: 12
• Competition starts at 16:00 at Milano Speed Skating Stadium on Friday, 13 February