Norway’s Sander Eitrem smashed the Olympic record to win gold in the men’s 5000m speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, clocking 6:03.95 at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium on Sunday 8 February 2026. Eitrem finished 2.53 seconds clear of Czech skater Metoděj Jílek, with Italy’s Riccardo Lorello taking bronze for the home nation.
What is the Men’s 5000m?
The 5000m is one of the classic long-distance disciplines of Olympic speed skating. Skaters race in pairs over 12 and a half laps of a 400-metre oval, with each pair’s times compared against every other pair in the field to determine the final order. It rewards a blend of aerobic power, pacing and technique, and is considered one of the most tactical events on the long-track programme. Men have contested the 5000m at every Winter Olympics since 1924.
When did the race take place?
The final was held on the afternoon of Sunday 8 February 2026, with pairs starting from around 16:00 local time (CET). Eitrem skated in the penultimate pair and set a time no one else could match.
Where was it held?
The event was staged at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium at Fiera Milano in Rho, a temporary long-track arena built within the existing exhibition complex for the Games. The venue housed a full 400m oval and seated around 8,000 spectators, with organisers citing fast ice conditions throughout the Olympics. Speed skating is returning to Italy for the first time since Torino 2006.
Results
Eitrem’s time of 6:03.95 broke the previous Olympic record by 4.89 seconds and was a track record as well. Metoděj Jílek claimed a surprise silver in 6:06.48 for the Czech Republic, his first senior global medal. Riccardo Lorello thrilled the home crowd with bronze in 6:09.22. Italy’s Davide Ghiotto, the Beijing 2022 champion, finished a heartbreaking fourth in 6:09.57, missing the podium by less than half a second. All three medallists were first-time Olympic medallists in the event.
Background and form going in
Eitrem arrived in Milan as the man to beat. Two weeks before the Olympics, he had broken the 5000m world record and become the first man in history to skate the distance inside six minutes. Ghiotto, the defending champion, and the Dutch pair of Patrick Roest and Jorrit Bergsma were considered his main rivals. Jílek’s silver was the result of the day, the 22-year-old continuing a breakout season for the Czech speed skating programme.
History and records
Eitrem’s new Olympic mark of 6:03.95 is the first time any Olympic 5000m has been skated inside 6:05. He becomes the first Norwegian to win Olympic 5000m gold since Johann Olav Koss at Lillehammer 1994, ending a 32-year wait. The Netherlands, who have dominated the event historically, were shut out of the podium for the first time since 2006.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in the Men’s 5000m at the 2026 Winter Olympics?
Sander Eitrem of Norway won gold in an Olympic record 6:03.95.
Was it a record?
Yes. Eitrem’s time was a new Olympic record and a track record, improving on the previous Olympic best by 4.89 seconds.
Where was the race held?
At the Milano Speed Skating Stadium at Fiera Milano in Rho, Italy.
Did Davide Ghiotto defend his title?
No. The Beijing 2022 champion finished fourth, 0.35 seconds off the bronze medal.