A new star has risen at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan: Dutch speed skater Xandra Velzeboer. At just 24, Velzeboer blazed to gold in the women’s short track 1000m on February 16, clocking 1:28.437. She edged out Canada’s Courtney Sarault, who claimed silver with 1:28.523, and South Korea’s Kim Gil-Li, who took bronze in 1:28.614.
This victory marks Velzeboer’s second gold of the Games. She first dazzled in the women’s 500m, capturing gold with a time of 41.609 after shattering the world record in the semi-finals with a blistering 41.399.
All About Xandra Velzeboer
Born in Culemborg, Netherlands, and calling Heerenveen home, Velzeboer grew up surrounded by skating greatness. Her father, Marc Velzeboer, raced at the 1992 Albertville Olympics, finishing 10th in the 1000m short track. Skating runs deep in her family, with her sister Michelle and aunts Monique and Simone all sharing the ice.
Xandra took up skating at the age of eight at the Sportium ice rink in Den Bosch. She would go on to make her breakthrough on the international stage in 2022, breaking the 500m world record in Salt Lake City in November, recording a time of 41.416 seconds. She would go on to compete at the Beijing 2022 Games, where she won gold as part of the Dutch women’s 3000m relay team.
Velzeboer would then go on to win ISU World Championship gold in the 500m at both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 championships, and also claimed the title of 1000m World Champion in 2023-24. Now, with three Olympic golds to her name, the Dutch sensation will be looking to add more success to what has been a storied career so far.
Velzeboer on Her Win in 1000m
After her electrifying 1000m win, Velzeboer shared her thoughts, reflecting on a performance that left fans and rivals alike in awe.
“It’s unbelievable. In the heats I skated very easy and a fast time, and I was like maybe I can do it in this distance too. I’ve done it before in the past, but this year I’ve only been on the podium once. But every time was in good positions, so I got a lot of experience out of these races and that gave me also a lot of confidence in myself, that I can read the race well and follow my instinct, and I’m also in this shape and everything came together,” she said, as per Olympics.com.
Italian legend Arianna Fontana, a thirteen-time Olympic medallist, finished just off the podium in fourth, while China’s Gong Li completed the top five.
