At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Dutch speed skater Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong secured her first Olympic gold medal in the women’s 1500m event, marking a significant milestone at her fourth Olympic Games.
According to ISU Skating from the International Skating Union, Rijpma-De Jong, who previously earned three bronze and two silver Olympic medals since her debut in 2014, finally claimed the top podium spot after closely contesting with Norway’s Ragne Wiklund and Canada’s Valérie Maltais.
Rijpma-De Jong was paired against Brittany Bowe of the United States in the penultimate heat. She managed to edge out Wiklund’s leading time by 0.06 seconds, finishing with a time of 1 minute and 53.73 seconds. Rijpma-De Jong took an early lead in the race and, despite some challenges in maintaining pace, her ability to chase down Bowe on the final backstretch helped secure her victory. She reflected on the race by noting the importance of maintaining focus and fighting for every second, especially in the last lap.
For Rijpma-De Jong, winning gold fulfilled a long-held dream. At 30 years old and competing in her fourth Olympics, this victory followed her recent silver medal in the Team Pursuit earlier in the week. She expressed optimism about continuing her career but acknowledged the uncertainties the future may hold beyond these Games.
Brittany Bowe, competing in her final Olympic race, finished fourth for the third time at these Games, a result she described as heartbreaking. Bowe acknowledged the strong support from the predominantly Dutch spectators and paid tribute to her coach, emphasizing how her time in speed skating has shaped her as a person.
Ragne Wiklund of Norway secured the silver medal in the 1500m, adding a third Olympic medal in Milan to her collection, which also includes silver in the 3000m and bronze in the 5000m. Wiklund described the race as both a relief from pressure and an enjoyable experience, although she felt she made some small mistakes in the final 100 meters.
Valérie Maltais of Canada claimed the bronze medal after posting the fastest final lap of the field. Maltais approached the race with a measured strategy, focusing on consistent strength throughout rather than an explosive start. Her bronze follows a previous third-place finish in the 3000m and a gold medal in the Team Pursuit at these Games. She is aiming to continue her medal streak in the upcoming Mass Start event.
Japan’s Miho Takagi, entering the race as the favorite, finished sixth. Takagi acknowledged that her stamina in the final lap was insufficient to secure a medal, despite a strong start and aggressive strategy. She noted that the result reflects a lack of ability to sustain the needed pace toward the race’s end rather than a faulty race plan.
