Image: from ISU Speed Skating X@ISU_Speed
MILAN, Italy — The Milano Speed Skating Stadium witnessed a historic shift in the hierarchy of winter sports today as Norway’s Sander Eitrem demolished the Olympic record to claim gold in the men’s 5000m.
In a display of sheer power and technical precision, the 23-year-old Norwegian clocked a staggering 6:03.95, shaving nearly five seconds off the previous Olympic mark set by Sweden’s Nils van der Poel (6:08.84) four years ago in Beijing. The victory marks a crowning achievement for Eitrem, who arrived in Italy as the world record holder after becoming the first man in history to break the six-minute barrier just weeks before the Games.
A Changing of the Guard
For over a decade, the 5000m was the undisputed territory of Dutch legend Sven Kramer, followed by the brief but dominant era of Van der Poel. Today, Eitrem signaled the beginning of a new chapter. Skating in the penultimate pair, the Norwegian powerhouse faced immense pressure from the home crowd and a surging field of young talent.
Despite a slightly hesitant start, Eitrem’s mid-race acceleration was unmatched. His lap times remained consistently low, allowing him to pull away from his competitors with a margin of victory rarely seen at this level.
“I put a target on my back with the world record in Inzell,” Eitrem said following his victory. “To come here and execute under this pressure is a dream. The ice was fast, and I felt I could push every single lap.”
The Podium and Home Hopes
The silver medal went to the Czech Republic’s Metodej Jílek, who continued his breakout season with a time of 6:06.48. At just 19 years old, Jílek becomes the first Czech man to win an Olympic speed skating medal, further cementing his status as one of the sport’s brightest rising stars.
The bronze provided the day’s most emotional moment for the local spectators. Italy’s Riccardo Lorello, a dark horse entering the competition, skated the race of his life to finish in 6:09.22. Lorello held the lead for much of the afternoon, and while he was eventually surpassed by the “big guns,” his bronze medal is Italy’s first in this event since Enrico Fabris won gold in Turin 20 years ago.
Home favorite and 10,000m world record holder Davide Ghiotto narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth after a late-race fade that left him just 0.35 seconds behind his countryman Lorello.
Dutch Dominance Fades
In a surprising turn for a sport traditionally dominated by the Netherlands, no Dutch skaters reached the podium. Stijn van de Bunt, Chris Huizinga, and Marcel Bosker struggled to match the blistering pace set by the Norwegian and Czech skaters, leaving the “Oranje” without a medal in the 5000m for the first time in recent memory.
As the Games continue, all eyes will now turn to the 10,000m, where Eitrem and Ghiotto are expected to renew their rivalry in what is shaping up to be the fastest Olympic speed skating competition in history.