Norwegian speed skater Sander Eitrem struggled during the 10,000-meter race at the Winter Olympics in Milan, finishing seventh after showing signs of illness, leading to his isolation from the team as precaution.
According to NRK, Eitrem unexpectedly faded in the latter half of the race despite winning the 5,000 meters earlier in the Games. The 19-year-old from Nord-Odal described feeling unwell during the warm-up and suspected illness affected his performance. After a strong start with promising leader times, he ultimately finished with a time of 12:47.11, placing him seventh overall.
The race was won by 19-year-old Czech skater Metodej Jilek, who secured his first Olympic gold with a time of 12:33.43, more than five seconds ahead of silver medalist Vladimir Semirunniy from Poland. Dutch veteran Jorrit Bergsma, age 40, earned the bronze medal in the event.
Following the race, Norwegian team officials decided to isolate Eitrem from the Olympic village as a precaution to prevent the spread of a suspected stomach virus, which had already affected other members of the Norwegian delegation including coaches. Team doctor and medical staff are monitoring Eitrem’s condition closely, and he is expected to rest at a nearby hotel. Despite concerns, the team maintains they do not believe other athletes are at risk of infection at this time.
Eitrem’s coach, Bjarne Rykkje, confirmed the decision to separate the skater from the main group, emphasizing that medical care is in place and that being at peak athletic condition can sometimes increase vulnerability to illness. Plans remain for Eitrem to participate in the 1,500-meter and team pursuit events later in the Olympics, contingent on his recovery.
Meanwhile, the race saw disappointment for Danish skater Viktor Thorup, who was forced to withdraw after he was incapacitated by illness prior to the event. Thorup described the experience as both a dream and a nightmare, having aimed for the event for four years.
Before the race, NRK expert Even Wetten had tempered expectations for the Norwegian team on this distance, highlighting Jilek and Italian specialist Davide Ghiotto as favorites. The last Norwegian to win the 10,000 meters was Johann Olav Koss during the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer.
The competition schedule continues with Norwegian skaters Henrik Fagerli Rukke and Bjørn Magnussen competing in the 500-meter event, with Magnussen viewed as a medal contender.
