At the 2026 Winter Olympics held in Milan-Cortina, Dutch speed skater Jorrit Bergsma won the gold medal in the mass start event. With this victory, he made history by becoming the oldest Olympic champion in long-distance speed skating, as he was 40 years old at the time of his triumph.
The race began with an aggressive start from Bergsma, who quickly established a significant lead over the main group. Paired with Danish skater Viktor Hald Thorup, he moved ahead, but in the final stages of the race, the Dutchman increased his lead and confidently finished first, while Thorup took the silver.
Previously, the age record among Olympic champions belonged to Ireen Wüst, who won gold in 2022 at the age of 35. It is also worth noting that among men, the oldest Olympic winner remained Clas Thunberg, who became champion at 34 during the 1928 Olympics.
For Bergsma, this medal became the fourth of his Olympic career. He had previously achieved success at the 2014 Games, winning gold in the 10,000 meters and bronze in the 5,000 meters, as well as silver in the 10,000 meters in 2018.
The victory in Milan-Cortina highlights Bergsma's remarkable athletic longevity and his status as one of the most consistent speed skaters of modern times.
