Speed Skating at Milano Cortina 2026

For the First Time in 26 Years, Olympic Speed Skating Goes Back Outdoors

Here’s the headline that changes everything about speed skating at Milano Cortina 2026: the Baselga di Piné Ice Rink is an open-air oval. The last time Olympic speed skating was held outdoors was Nagano 1998. Since then, every Games has used enclosed venues with controlled climates. Racing in the elements — wind, temperature fluctuations, precipitation — fundamentally alters the sport. Records set under laboratory conditions indoors may not fall here. What will matter instead is adaptability, race-day toughness, and the ability to read conditions.

Speed skating at these Games features 14 medal events: individual distances from the 500m sprint to the grueling 10,000m, the mass start, and team pursuit for both men and women. The schedule stretches across nearly the entire Games.

How the Races Work

In individual speed skating, two athletes race simultaneously on a 400-meter oval, each in their own lane. They switch lanes each lap at the crossing straight (the backstretch), ensuring both skaters cover the same distance on the inner and outer lanes. Times are compared across all pairs to determine final standings.

The team pursuit is a thrilling tactical event: three-person teams race against each other, and drafting (skating in the slipstream of a teammate) is essential. Teams rotate the lead position, and the clock stops when the third skater crosses the finish line — meaning teams must manage their weakest member’s fatigue.

The mass start is the newest and most chaotic event. Up to 24 skaters race together for 16 laps, with intermediate sprints at fixed intervals awarding points, plus a final sprint to the finish. It rewards tactical racing, pack positioning, and a devastating finishing kick. If you’ve watched road cycling or track cycling, the mass start will feel familiar.

The Dutch Machine

The Netherlands dominates speed skating like no other nation dominates any Olympic sport. At Beijing 2022, Dutch skaters won 12 medals (6 gold). Their program benefits from a deeply embedded skating culture — the Netherlands has thousands of natural-ice enthusiasts who skate canals every winter — plus world-class coaching and commercial support.

Irene Schouten was the star of Beijing with three golds, and she remains a force in the longer distances and mass start. On the men’s side, the Dutch have depth across every event, though the sprints are more competitive internationally.

U.S. Medal Hopes

The United States has a proud speed skating tradition — Eric Heiden’s five golds in 1980, Bonnie Blair’s dominance in the ’90s, and more recently, Erin Jackson’s stunning 500m gold in Beijing. Jackson’s path to that gold was dramatic: she slipped during U.S. Trials, missed qualifying, and was given a spot by teammate Brittany Bowe’s selfless gesture. Jackson enters 2026 as the woman to beat in the 500m once again.

Jordan Stolz has emerged as a potential superstar for the American men. Still just 21, Stolz has posted world-class times across the 1000m and 1500m and has the versatility to medal in multiple events. He could be the face of U.S. speed skating for the next decade.

The Outdoor Variable

Racing outdoors at Baselga di Piné (elevation ~1,000 meters) introduces variables that indoor skating eliminates. Wind is the biggest factor — a headwind on the backstretch can cost tenths of a second per lap, while a tailwind does the opposite. Pairs that race in different wind conditions may see unfair time comparisons, though organizers try to manage this. Temperature affects ice hardness: colder ice is faster but more brittle; warmer ice is slower but grippier.

If you’re tuning in for the first time, watch the Dutch skaters’ technique through the corners — the crossover strides in the turns are where the most time is gained or lost, and the best skaters seem to glide effortlessly through each bend while maintaining incredible speed.

Athletes to Watch

Jordan Stolz (USA, 1000m / 1500m / 5000m) — The 21-year-old American has exploded onto the scene with world-class times across multiple distances, positioning himself as the most exciting U.S. speed skating prospect in a generation.

Erin Jackson (USA, 500m) — The defending Olympic 500m champion brings explosive starting speed and a dramatic backstory to her title defense — she remains the woman to beat in the sprint.

Irene Schouten (NED, 3000m / 5000m / Mass Start) — The Dutch powerhouse won three golds in Beijing and continues to dominate the longer distances with a combination of endurance and tactical intelligence.

Thomas Krol (NED, 1000m / 1500m) — The Beijing 1000m gold medalist leads the Dutch men’s middle-distance squad and adapts well to varying ice conditions — a crucial skill for outdoor racing.

Nils van der Poel (SWE, 5000m / 10,000m) — The Swedish sensation won double gold in the distance events in Beijing with stunning solo performances and has hinted at a return for 2026 after a hiatus from competition.

Venue Spotlight

The Baselga di Piné Ice Rink, located at approximately 1,000 meters elevation in Trentino, is an open-air 400-meter oval that makes Milano Cortina 2026 the first outdoor Olympic speed skating competition since 1998. The venue has been upgraded with modern timing systems, enhanced spectator facilities, and wind-mitigation features, but the outdoor setting ensures that weather conditions will play a role in every race. The natural surroundings and fresh-air racing hark back to speed skating’s origins on frozen canals.