In a vibrant display of Dutch dominance, the women's 1,000m speed skating event at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics culminated with an emotional podium celebration. Femke Kok and Jutta Leerdam joined Japan's Miho Takagi for a celebratory selfie, capturing the moment after a fiercely contested race that saw records shattered and hearts stirred.
Orange Wave in Milan
The speed skating stadium in Milan was awash with orange on Monday, as Dutch fans, including King Willem-Alexander, turned out in force to support their athletes. For many in the Netherlands, speed skating is a winter passion, often born from the practicality of skating on frozen waterways. This cultural fervour was palpable as the competition unfolded.
Record-Breaking Performances
Femke Kok, the reigning world champion over 500m who broke the world record in November, lined up alongside 1,000m world record-holder Brittany Bowe. Kok not only left Bowe trailing but also smashed the Olympic record, prompting King Willem-Alexander to celebrate with enthusiastic fist pumps.
However, the spotlight shifted to Jutta Leerdam, the 2022 Beijing silver medallist, who was cheered on by her fiancé, YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Leerdam, skating last, initially lagged behind Kok's splits but mounted a stunning comeback against Miho Takagi. She emptied her tank in a final burst, crossing the line to strip Kok of both the Olympic record and the gold medal. "I couldn't really stand, I couldn't really see, I couldn't do anything," an exhausted Leerdam admitted post-race, with Paul visibly moved to tears in the stands.
Team GB's Agonising Near-Misses
While the Netherlands celebrated, Great Britain's quest for a first medal faced further frustration. In freeski slopestyle, Kirsty Muir's final attempt landed her just 0.41 points shy of Canada's Megan Oldham and a bronze medal. "I'm in a bit of a hole right now," an emotional Muir confessed, though she retains hope in the ski big air event.
Similarly, in snowboard big air, Mia Brookes gambled on a backside 1620 on her last jump—a move that could have secured gold. Unable to land it cleanly, she finished fourth, with Japan's Kokomo Murase claiming the title with a frontside triple cork 1440. Brookes now looks ahead to snowboard slopestyle for redemption.
In curling, the British mixed doubles pair of Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat, who won eight of nine round-robin matches, fell to Sweden's sibling duo Rasmus and Isabella Wranå in the semi-finals, relegating them to a bronze medal match against Italy.
Swiss Skiing Supremacy
The Alpine combined team event saw Switzerland reaffirm its skiing prowess. Despite Italy's Giovanni Franzoni challenging Swiss stars like Franjo von Allmen and Marco Odermatt in the downhill, Switzerland's slalom skiers, particularly Tanguy Nef, propelled them to victory. Nef's performance, described by Von Allmen as "nailed," lifted Switzerland from fourth to top spot, leaving Italy's Alex Vinatzer unable to respond and dropping to seventh. The podium was dominated by Swiss teams, highlighting their depth in the discipline.
Medal Table Update
Norway continues to lead the medal table, though they did not add to their tally on Monday. Switzerland and Japan follow closely, with the Netherlands entering the top ten after Leerdam's gold. The emoji-based table reflects a competitive field, with Italy accumulating medals but missing out on podium finishes in key events.
Looking Ahead
Day four of the Olympics promises more excitement, with events including cross-country skiing sprints, women's Alpine team combined, men's freeski slopestyle finals, and the mixed doubles curling medal matches. Great Britain will aim to break their medal drought in the bronze medal clash against Italy, while all eyes will be on high-profile fixtures like the USA vs Canada women's ice hockey match.
In a poignant moment, Ukraine's skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych trained wearing a helmet adorned with images of war victims from his homeland, reminding spectators of the broader context beyond sport. As the Games progress, the blend of athletic brilliance, national pride, and personal stories continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
