The Netherlands Femke Kok reacts as she realizes she has won the gold medal in the women's 500 meters at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics in Milan, Italy, on Sunday, February 15, 2026. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPIDarryl CooteMon, February 16, 2026 at 3:48 AM UTC·2 min readFeb. 15 (UPI) -- Dutch skater Femke Kok set an Olympic record in the women's 500 meters on Sunday and won the Netherlands' first gold medal in the distance in the process.
The 25-year-old skated a blistering 36.49 seconds at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium to claim the gold medal, her second medal of these Games after taking silver in the 1,000-meter.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"This really is a relief. I'm so proud I made it happen," Kok, the three-time reigning world champion in the 500-meter, told reporters. "This is what I dreamed about as a little girl, and that it happens today is so special."
Kok's Netherlands teammate Jutta Leerdam won silver in the 500-meter with a time of 37.15 seconds and Miho Takagi of Japan claimed bronze with a time of 37.27 seconds.
U.S.'s Erin Jackson, who won gold in Beijing, finished fifth with a time of 37.32 seconds.
The Netherlands gold medalist Femke Kok (R) poses for a photo with teammate and silver medalist Jutta Leerdam at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics in Milan, Italy, on Sunday, February 15, 2026. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPILeerdam took gold in the women's 1,000-meter speed skating event on Feb. 9. Takagi won a bronze in the event. The 31-year-old is Japan's most decorated female Olympian, having won seven Olympic medals before the Italy Games. With two bronzes in Italy, she now has nine.
Fans show their support the Netherlands Femke Kok during the women's 500 meters final at 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics in Milan, Italy, on Sunday, February 15, 2026. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPIAdvertisementAdvertisement
