Today Wrapped – February 17th 2026
Summary of February 17th 2026
- Italy wins gold in both men’s and women’s team pursuit speed skating at the Winter Olympics.
- Canada’s women’s team successfully defends Olympic gold in team pursuit after a close battle with the Dutch.
- Dutch men’s and women’s teams earn silver and fourth place finishes amid internal tensions and selection controversies.
- Individual highlights include Jutta Leerdam’s 1,000m gold and Suzanne Schulting’s emotional reflections on injury struggles.
Olympic Speed Skating Team Pursuit Highlights
Italy shone brightest on day nine of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, capturing gold in both men’s and women’s long track team pursuit events. The Italian men’s team defeated a strong Team USA squad to claim the title, marking their first gold in this event since 2006. Read more on Gazzetta.it
Similarly, the Italian men’s pursuit victory was celebrated as a historic repeat of their home soil triumph twenty years ago. Team USA earned the silver medal with a strong performance – detailed coverage is available at USA Today and also here.
Canadian and Dutch Women’s Teams Contest for Gold
The Canadian women’s speed skating team, consisting of Isabelle Weidemann, Valérie Maltais, and Ivanie Blondin, successfully defended their Olympic gold in team pursuit, narrowly edging out the Dutch team to take first place in a thrilling final in Milan. See full story on CBC.ca
The Dutch women earned the silver medal, continuing a strong tradition but falling just short of gold despite their prior world championship success. Multiple reports detail their performance and reflections including here and here.
Challenges and Controversies Surround Dutch Teams
The Dutch men’s team narrowly missed the medals, finishing fourth amid internal struggles and tensions between key athletes and coaching staff. Marcel Bosker’s strained relationship with coach Rintje Ritsma contributed to a difficult campaign at the Milan Olympics. Detailed coverage of these challenges is available at nos.nl and telegraaf.nl.
The team’s selection process also faced controversy, impacting morale and performance: Read about selection issues. Veteran skater Jorrit Bergsma offered praise to newcomers despite the setbacks: View reflections here.
Individual Performances and Reactions
Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam responded to pre-Olympic criticism with a gold medal in the 1,000 meters, emphasizing commitment and overcoming negative scrutiny. Full story
Suzanne Schulting shared emotional reflections on injuries that challenged her short track career leading up to the Olympics, expressing pride and determination despite setbacks. Read her story
Femke Kok defended her coach Dennis van der Gun against criticism following a personal comment during a medal celebration, emphasizing trust and team support. Details at ad.nl.
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