China’s Ning Zhongyan claimed bronze in the men’s 1,000m speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, marking the country’s best-ever Olympic result in the event.
Two Olympic records fell in a dramatic men’s 1,000m speed skating final at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on February 11. China’s Ning Zhongyan secured bronze in a race full of shifting standings and late suspense.
American skater Jordan Stolz won gold in 1:06.28, while Dutch veteran Kjeld Nuis took silver in 1:06.78. Both times surpassed the previous Olympic record of 1:07.18 set by Gerard van Velde at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games.
Ning skated in the outer lane of the 12th pair and posted 1:07.34, his season’s best at a low-altitude venue. He briefly led the standings with three pairs remaining. The time ultimately held for bronze, marking the best Olympic result ever by a Chinese skater in the men’s 1,000m.
The competition featured additional drama earlier in the race. During the 11th pair, blade contact occurred between China’s Lian Ziwen and Dutch skater Hein Otterspeer. Lian was ruled to have committed a foul, and Otterspeer was granted a re-skate. He finished in 1:07.58, placing fifth and leaving the medal positions unchanged.
Ning, making his first appearance at the Milan-Cortina Games, celebrated with coach Johan de Wit after crossing the finish line. Following a tense wait as the final pairs completed their races, he said the uncertainty had been the most difficult part.
Reflecting on the result, Ning noted that he had not reached the podium in the 1,000m during this season’s World Cup circuit. He described the Olympic bronze as recognition of his efforts over the past four years.
Additional reporting by CNS.
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