Today Wrapped – February 12th 2026

Summary of February 12th 2026

• Joep Wennemars faces Olympic disappointment and reskate after collision in 1000m race.
• Martina Sáblíková recovers to compete and concludes illustrious career.
• Merel Conijn secures silver in thrilling 5000m race, narrowly edged out by Francesca Lollobrigida.
• Sander Eitrem and others prepare for upcoming 10,000m Olympic event.
• Technical impacts of equipment and race management highlighted in expert reflections.

Joep Wennemars’ Olympic Collision and Reskate

The Olympic 1000 meters event saw a dramatic collision between Dutch skater Joep Wennemars and Chinese skater Lian Ziwen. Joep was forced into a quick reskate within 30 minutes as per ISU rules after the controversial exchange in Milan. His father, former skating star Erben Wennemars, spoke candidly about Joep’s emotional struggle following the incident that cost him a potential Olympic medal.

Jac Orie, a coach, reflected on the serious nature of the collision, noting the strong impact and the intense competition at the Games.

Read more in the original articles:
Erben Wennemars on Son Joep’s Disappointment After 1000m Olympic Incident
Joep Wennemars Faces Quick Reskate Following Controversial Exchange in Milan
Jac Orie Reflects on Collision Between Joep Wennemars and Lian Ziwen

Martina Sáblíková’s Olympic Comeback and Farewell

After a recent illness, Czech speed skating legend Martina Sáblíková recovered to compete in the women’s 5000m event at the Winter Olympics. This race also marked the end of her incredible career, spanning six Olympic Games with three gold medals.

Details on her recovery and career conclusion can be found here:
Martina Sáblíková Ready to Compete in Women’s 5000m at Winter Olympics After Illness
Martina Sábíková Concludes Career After Sixth Olympic Games

Women’s 5000m: Conijn’s Silver and Lollobrigida’s Gold in a Photo Finish

The women’s 5000 meters speed skating event became a highlight of Milan Cortina 2026 with Italian Francesca Lollobrigida clinching her second Olympic gold, narrowly edging out Netherlands’ Merel Conijn by 0.10 seconds. Conijn’s performance marked a silver medal finish after overcoming a recent calcium deficiency and physical hurdles, which she spoke about with gratitude for her team and supporters.

Ragne Wiklund took bronze, sharing her mixed emotions over a solid but not perfect race. Belgian Sandrine Tas also narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth by mere fractions of a second.

Extensive coverage and insights can be found here:
Merel Conijn narrowly misses gold in 5,000m speed skating as Francesca Lollobrigida claims second Olympic title
Conijn Wins Olympic Silver in Women’s 5,000 Meters with Close Finish
Lollobrigida Wins Olympic 5000m Gold, Edging Out Conijn by 0.10 Seconds
Merel Conijn Expresses Gratitude After Winning Silver at Milan Cortina 2026
Conijn Reflects on Overcoming Physical Challenges to Achieve Success
Ragne Wiklund Expresses Mixed Feelings After Winning Bronze in Women’s 5000m at Winter Olympics
Belgian Skater Sandrine Tas Misses Olympic Medal by Fractions of a Second
Merel Conijn Takes Silver in Olympic 5,000 Meter; Coach Jillert Anema Reflects on Race Strategy

Long-Distance Events and Rising Stars

Sander Eitrem is emerging as a favorite for the men’s 10,000m event, with a strong field at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. Meanwhile, Stijn van de Bunt raised concerns regarding uncertain communication about his participation in the team pursuit but showed strong performances in long-distance events.

Stories and insights here:
Sander Eitrem Favored in 10,000m Speed Skating at Milano Cortina 2026
Stijn van de Bunt Expresses Uncertainty Over Participation in Team Pursuit
Stijn van de Bunt and Fellow Competitors Highlight Olympic Speed Skating Long-Distance Races

Technical Advances and Race Organization

The clap skate, introduced in the 1990s, continues to impact speed skating performance by enhancing power transfer, as discussed in a detailed analysis. Additionally, race officials and athletes touched on the challenges and fairness issues surrounding the timing and management of quick reskates during competitions.

More here:
The Impact of the Clap Skate on Speed Skating Performance
Krol Reflects on Challenges of Reskate Timing in Speed Skating Competition

Source articles

• Merel Conijn Wins Silver in 5,000m at Winter Olympics in Milan
• Francesca Lollobrigida Wins Gold in 5000m Speed Skating at Milan Cortina 2026