Italy claimed the gold medal in the men’s Team Pursuit speed skating event at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games held in Milano Cortina, replicating their victory from 20 years earlier in Torino.
According to ISU Skating, the Italian team comprised Davide Ghiotto, Michele Malfatti, and Andrea Giovannini, who triumphed over favored rivals from the United States in an intense final match. The victory echoed Italy’s success at Torino 2006, underscoring the significance of winning on home ice for the country’s speed skating community.
In the men’s semi-final, Italy faced the Netherlands, a strong contender that had replaced a key skater after the quarter-finals. Italy paced their eight-lap race strategically, conserving energy while gradually overtaking the Dutch team. They finished 1.79 seconds ahead, enabling them to enter the final with some reserves. The US team, consisting of Casey Dawson, Emery Lehman, and Ethan Cepuran, won their semi-final against China with a larger margin but found it challenging to save energy during the race.
During the final, the US led initially but Italy took the lead with 2.5 laps remaining and maintained their speed until the finish, completing the race in 3 minutes and 39.20 seconds. The US team finished 4.51 seconds behind. Ghiotto described the win as a dream achieved after hard work and support from teammates and coaches. He also paid tribute to previous Italian champions Donagrandi, Fabris, and Sanfratello, who had won the inaugural Olympic Team Pursuit in 2006.
The US team, marking their final competition together after seven years, reflected on their journey with pride despite their disappointment in the outcome. They acknowledged Italy’s strength and expressed satisfaction in securing a medal.
China claimed its first-ever bronze medal in a Long Track Team event by narrowly defeating the Netherlands in the B final, marking a significant milestone for the country in Olympic speed skating. The Chinese team strategically conserved energy in the semi-finals, focusing their efforts on the medal race.
In the women’s Team Pursuit, Canada successfully defended their Olympic title by overcoming the Netherlands in the final. The Canadian team, including Isabelle Weidemann, Valerie Maltais, and Ivanie Blondin, had earlier defeated the US in the semi-finals. The Dutch team had a challenging semi-final against Japan but managed to advance, though fatigue was a factor in the final. Japan secured the bronze medal after victories in the B final against the US, and the event marked the final Team Pursuit races for some of their leading skaters.
Both the men’s and women’s competitions featured strategic pacing and team coordination, with several athletes marking milestones in their careers and reflecting on their experiences. The event demonstrated the high level of competition and the significance of teamwork in Olympic speed skating pursuits.
