Dubois Wins Gold as Van ’t Wout Brothers Share Podium, South Korea Takes Relay
Updated (2 articles)
Dubois Captures First Individual Olympic Gold On 19 February 2026, Canada’s Steven Dubois won the men’s 500 m short‑track final in Milan, earning his first individual Olympic gold and stopping Dutch star Jens van ’t Wout from completing a sweep [1][2]. The victory follows Dubois’s relay gold in Beijing and his bronze in the 500 m and silver in the 1,500 m at the same Games [1][2]. His win marks a historic moment for Canada in short‑track speed skating.
Van ’t Wout Brothers Complete Rare Sibling Podium Melle van ’t Wout, celebrating his 26th birthday, secured silver ahead of his younger brother Jens, who took bronze [1][2]. Jens admitted he lost focus when Melle surged from fifth to second on lap three, saying he was “more concerned with his brother staying upright than his own performance” [1][2]. The result creates a seldom‑seen brother‑on‑podium finish in Olympic short‑track history.
South Korea Secures Women’s 3,000 m Relay Gold The South Korean quartet of Minjeong Choi, Gilli Kim, Sukhee Shim and Dohee Noh posted a time of 4:04.014 to claim the women’s 3,000 m relay gold, the nation’s first short‑track relay victory at the 2026 Games [1][2]. Their win came after a dramatic crash involving the Dutch team, yet the South Koreans recovered and surged ahead in the final laps [2]. The performance fulfills national expectations and adds a new milestone for the country’s short‑track program.
Fontana Sets Italian Medal Record Italy’s Arianna Fontana captured her 14th Olympic medal in the relay, surpassing fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti’s 1960 record for most medals by an Italian athlete [1][2]. The achievement makes her the most decorated short‑track speed skater ever and cements her legacy across six Winter Games [1][2]. Fontana’s medal also contributed to Italy’s overall short‑track tally at the Games.
Dutch Relay Falters After Velzeboer Crash Michelle Velzeboer fell with 16 laps remaining in the women’s relay, ending the Netherlands’ medal hopes despite a strong start [1][2]. South Korea’s team, after their own brief crash, recovered and finished ahead of Italy, with Gilli Kim—nicknamed “Lambor‑Gilli” for her speed—passing Fontana near the finish line [2]. The incident highlights the race’s volatility and the fine margins that separate podium finishes.
Sources
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1.
WBNS: Dubois Wins First Olympic Gold as Van ’t Wout Brothers Share Podium: Details Dubois’s gold, the van ’t Wout brothers’ silver‑bronze finish, South Korea’s relay win, Fontana’s record, and Velzeboer’s crash .
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2.
King5: Dubois Wins Men’s 500 m, Van ’t Wout Brothers Share Podium at Milan‑Cortina: Emphasizes Dubois’s breakthrough, the brothers’ birthday silver, Jens’s distraction, South Korea’s first relay gold, Fontana’s Italian record, and the Dutch fall with a focus on “Lambor‑Gilli” Kim .
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Timeline
Feb 2022 – Steven Dubois wins his first Olympic gold as part of Canada’s men’s 5,000 m short‑track relay team in Beijing, establishing him as a key relay skater for future Games [1][2].
Early Feb 2026 – At the Milan‑Cortina Games, Dubois adds a bronze in the men’s 500 m and a silver in the 1,500 m, showing his versatility across distances [1][2].
Mid‑Feb 2026 – Dutch star Jens van ’t Wout captures the two preceding men’s individual short‑track titles, positioning him for a potential sweep of the events [2].
Feb 19, 2026 – Steven Dubois clinches the men’s 500 m gold, halting the Dutch sweep and earning his first individual Olympic gold after earlier relay success [1][2].
Feb 19, 2026 – Melle van ’t Wout secures silver on his 26th birthday, delivering his first Olympic medal and creating a rare sibling podium with his brother [1][2].
Feb 19, 2026 – Jens van ’t Wout admits he “wasn’t even racing anymore” after being distracted by Melle’s surge from fifth to second place during the final [1][2].
Feb 19, 2026 – South Korea claims the women’s 3,000 m relay gold in 4:04.014, delivering the nation’s first short‑track relay gold of the 2026 Olympics [1][2].
Feb 19, 2026 – Arianna Fontana captures Italy’s 14th Olympic medal, surpassing Edoardo Mangiarotti’s 1960 record and becoming the most decorated short‑track skater ever [1][2].
Feb 19, 2026 – Michelle Velzeboer crashes with 16 laps remaining, ending Dutch hopes in the women’s relay as South Korea recovers from its own crash to win [1][2].