Norwegian Eitrem Shatters Olympic Record to Claim 5000m Speed Skating Gold in Debut

Norwegian speed skater Sander Eitrem delivered a historic performance at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Sunday, February 8, smashing the Olympic record in the men's 5000 metres with a time of 6:03.95. The 24-year-old claimed Norway's first gold medal in the event since 1994, adding Olympic glory to the world record he set just two weeks earlier. Despite slipping as he left the start line, Eitrem recovered brilliantly to dominate the field at the Oval Lingotto. Eitrem clipped nearly five seconds off the Olympic record that Swedish speed skating legend Nils van der Poel set four years earlier with a time of 6:08.84. The Norwegian's performance was even more remarkable considering he became the first man in speedskating history to complete the 5,000 metres in under six minutes at a World Cup race in Germany on January 24. His Olympic debut showcased the same devastating pace that has made him the sport's rising star. Metodej Jilek of Czechia claimed the silver medal, finishing 2.53 seconds behind Eitrem, while Italy's Riccardo Lorello delighted the home crowd by securing bronze with a time of 6:09.22. Jilek's silver was particularly historic, marking Czechia's first-ever Olympic medal in any men's speed skating event. The podium finish represented a breakthrough for Czech speed skating and added to the drama of an already thrilling competition. The race began with concern when Eitrem slipped leaving the starting line, a moment that could have derailed his entire Olympic campaign. However, the Norwegian demonstrated remarkable composure and technical mastery, quickly recovering his rhythm and building an insurmountable lead. His ability to overcome the early setback and still break the Olympic record highlighted the mental toughness that separates elite athletes from the rest of the field. Norway's return to the top of the 5000m podium ends a 32-year drought in the event, with the nation's last gold coming in 1994. Eitrem's victory continues Norway's proud tradition in speed skating and adds another chapter to the country's rich Winter Olympics history. The gold medal was Norway's second of the Milano Cortina Games, following earlier success in other disciplines. With his world record and now Olympic record in hand, Eitrem has established himself as the dominant force in men's long-distance speed skating. The Norwegian will have opportunities to add more medals as the Milano Cortina Olympics continue, with additional speed skating events scheduled throughout the Games. His performance has set the standard for the rest of the competition and given Norway a huge boost in the overall medal standings.