Jorrit Bergsma of the Netherlands won the men’s mass start speed skating gold at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Saturday 21 February 2026, completing one of the most unexpected victories of the Games at the age of 40. Denmark’s Viktor Hald Thorup took silver after joining Bergsma in a decisive early breakaway, while Italy’s Andrea Giovannini won bronze on home ice.
What is Olympic Men’s Mass Start Speed Skating?
The mass start is a 16-lap race around a 400m oval ice track in which all skaters start together, rather than in pairs like the traditional distance events. Points are awarded at intermediate sprints on laps 4, 8 and 12, with the largest points on offer at the finish. The winner is the skater with the most total points, and the final placings in the race settle ties.
The discipline joined the Olympic programme at PyeongChang 2018 and has become one of long-track speed skating’s most tactical and unpredictable events.
When did the Men’s Mass Start Take Place?
The race was held on Saturday 21 February 2026, on the penultimate day of Olympic competition. Semi-finals were staged in the morning with the final run in the afternoon at the Ice Hall of Fiera Milano.
Where was it Held?
Speed skating at Milano Cortina 2026 was held at the Ice Hall built within the Fiera Milano exhibition complex at Rho on Milan’s northern outskirts. The temporary venue was constructed around a 400m Olympic oval and seated around 8,000 spectators.
Results
Bergsma crossed the line in 7:55.50, nearly five seconds clear of Thorup in silver. Giovannini delighted the home crowd with bronze. Jordan Stolz of the United States, who had already won three gold medals in Italy across 1000m, 1500m and 5000m, could only manage fourth. Defending champion Bart Swings of Belgium also missed the podium.
The race was defined by an early breakaway from Bergsma and Thorup that the bunch never reeled in, an unusual outcome in a discipline that normally ends in a mass sprint.
Background and Form Going In
Stolz had been the pre-race favourite after an extraordinary Games. Swings was defending champion, having won the inaugural men’s mass start gold in Beijing 2022. Bergsma, the 2014 10,000m Olympic champion, was competing at his fourth Winter Games and had taken mass start silver in Beijing. Giovannini was the Italian crowd favourite.
History and Records
At 40 years old, Bergsma became one of the oldest speed skating gold medallists in Olympic history. The Netherlands now has Olympic mass start medals across three consecutive Games. Stolz’s failure to win four individual Olympic gold medals was the story of the men’s speed skating programme in Milan.
How to Watch (Replays)
Replays are available on olympics.com, NBC and Peacock in the United States, Eurosport and Discovery+ across Europe, NOS in the Netherlands, and BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in the men’s mass start speed skating at Milano Cortina 2026?
Jorrit Bergsma of the Netherlands in a time of 7:55.50.
When was the men’s mass start held?
Saturday 21 February 2026 at the Ice Hall of Fiera Milano.
Who won silver and bronze?
Viktor Hald Thorup of Denmark took silver and Italy’s Andrea Giovannini won bronze.
Where did Jordan Stolz finish?
Fourth, narrowly missing the podium after winning three other golds at the Games.