Milan: Norway’s Sander Eitrem delivered a performance for the ages, clinching gold in the men’s 5,000 metres with a stunning Olympic record at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games on Sunday.
Skating in his Olympic debut, the 23-year-old world record holder clocked 6:03.95, slicing more than three seconds off the previous Olympic mark and underlining his status as the dominant force in long-distance speedskating. The time sealed Norway’s place atop the podium in emphatic fashion.
World No. 1 Metodej Jilek of the Czech Republic, who shared the penultimate pairing with Eitrem, claimed silver in 6:06.48, while Italy’s Riccardo Lorello delighted the home crowd by taking bronze in 6:09.22 after leading the competition for much of the event.
Eitrem’s triumph capped a remarkable rise over the past month. Just over two weeks ago, he rewrote the record books by becoming the first man to skate the 5,000 metres in under six minutes at a World Cup meet in Germany. That feat transformed him, in his own words, from “one of the underdogs” into the clear favourite for Olympic gold.
The pressure showed early. Eitrem stumbled slightly in his opening strides, momentarily unsettling his rhythm. But the Norwegian quickly regrouped, settling into a powerful, fluid pace that gradually wore down the field. By the 1,400-metre mark, he had overtaken Jilek and continued to extend his lead lap after lap.
“Adrenaline just rushed through my body at the start,” Eitrem said afterward. “I was stressed, but once I got into my own bubble, I was back in it.”
As his time flashed on the scoreboard, Eitrem punched the air in celebration, knowing the gold was within reach. With his nearest rivals unable to match the pace, the Olympic crown was effectively decided before the final skaters finished.
“I had so many emotions at once,” he said. Eitrem’s victory not only delivered Norway another Winter Games highlight but also confirmed the arrival of a new Olympic champion who has already redefined the limits of speedskating.
Source: ESPN, Milano Cortina 2026
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