At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, 19-year-old Metoděj Jílek claimed the gold medal in the men’s 10,000m speed skating event, marking a historic first for Czechia in male long-track speed skating.
According to ISU Skating, Jílek’s victory took place at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium, where he finished with a time of 12 minutes and 33.43 seconds. He outpaced Poland’s Vladimir Semirunniy, who earned silver, and the seasoned Dutch skater Jorrit Bergsma, who took bronze 12 years after his Sochi gold and 8 years after his PyeongChang silver.
Jílek’s achievement follows the legacy of Martina Sáblíková, Czechia’s most decorated female Olympian in speed skating, who personally supported the young athlete by presenting him with a commemorative ‘golden boy’ T-shirt after his win. Jílek expressed gratitude for Sáblíková’s encouragement, acknowledging how her belief contributed to his confidence entering the race.
Throughout the race, Semirunniy set an early strong pace, skating close to world record times before the ice-cleaning break. Despite slowing in the second half, his final time of 12 minutes and 39.08 seconds remained the best until Jílek surpassed it. Semirunniy reflected on his performance with satisfaction yet acknowledged the need for continued progress.
Jílek noted he was not nervous before his race, although he woke up feeling slightly unwell. Confident in his preparation, he was aware that other top competitors like Sander Eitrem might challenge his time. Ultimately, his performance secured him the gold, fulfilling years of dedicated training.
Veteran Jorrit Bergsma, competing in what is likely his final Olympic race at age 40, embraced the opportunity to race alongside two promising young athletes. The Dutch skater managed to claim the bronze by pacing himself against world record holder Davide Ghiotto, who eventually finished sixth.
Other notable competitors included Sander Eitrem of Norway, the reigning Olympic 5000m champion, who focused on his primary event and finished seventh in the 10,000m. Canadian Ted-Jan Bloemen, the 2018 Olympic 10,000m champion, concluded his competitive career with a ninth-place finish, expressing his intention to remain involved in speed skating in a coaching capacity.
