At the 2026 Winter Olympics held in Milan and Cortina, Jorrit Bergsma won the gold medal in the mass start event, setting a record as the oldest Olympic champion in long track speed skating. He was 40 years old at the time of his triumph.
During the race, Bergsma took an active position on the track from the very beginning, managing to create a significant lead over his competitors. He moved ahead alongside Danish skater Viktor Hald Torup, but in the final part of the distance, the Dutchman further increased his advantage and confidently crossed the finish line first. The silver medal went to Torup.
Previously, the age record among female Olympic champions was held by Ireen Wüst, who won gold in 2022 at the age of 35. Among men, for nearly a century, the oldest champion was Clas Thunberg, who became an Olympic winner at the age of 34 in 1928.
This medal became the fourth in Bergsma's career. He already has gold in the 10,000 meters and bronze in the 5,000 meters, won at the 2014 Olympics, as well as silver in the 10,000 meters in 2018.
The victory in Milan-Cortina not only confirmed his incredible athletic resilience but also solidified Bergsma's reputation as one of the most consistent speed skaters of modern times.
