Xandra Velzeboer wins second Olympic gold as Dutch short-track shines in Milan

Xandra Velzeboer captured her second Olympic gold in Milan, finishing first in the 1000-meter final on Monday. Earlier, on Thursday, the 24-year-old had already secured gold in the 500 meters.

Jens van 't Wout had previously claimed gold in both the 1000- and 1500-meter events. Under the guidance of head coach Niels Kerstholt, the Dutch short track team is enjoying its most successful Olympics to date.

At the Milano Ice Skating Arena, Xandra Velzeboer outpaced Canadian Courtney Sarault (silver) and South Korean Kim Gilli (bronze) in the final. Velzeboer is set to race in the 1500 meters on Friday.

The Dutch team’s achievements in short track exceeded expectations going into the Olympics. For head coach Niels Kerstholt and his leading skaters, everything is coming together at the sport’s biggest event.

At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the Dutch short track team, led by then-coach Jeroen Otter, won four medals in total, including just two golds. Suzanne Schulting accounted for all of the country’s short track podium finishes, taking gold in the 1000 meters, silver in the 500 meters, and bronze in the 1500 meters. She also helped the women’s relay team, together with Selma Poutsma, Xandra Velzeboer, and Yara van Kerkhof, secure another gold medal.

During the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, the Dutch short track team also brought home four medals. Suzanne Schulting won gold in the 1000 meters, Yara van Kerkhof took silver in the 500 meters, and Sjinkie Knegt earned silver in the 1500 meters. The women’s relay team added a bronze medal to the tally.

At the moment, Dutch short track skaters are enjoying more success in Milan than their long track counterparts, a first in Olympic history. Van 't Wout and Velzeboer together have four gold medals, compared with two golds for long track skaters Jutta Leerdam and Femke Kok.

Due to this win, TeamNL has climbed to third in the Olympic medal table, marking its best position so far at the Milan–Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Games. Velzeboer’s gold medal has temporarily pushed the United States down to fourth in the Olympic rankings.