Olympic speed skater Joep Wennemars was visibly angry after his shot at a gold medal at the Winter Games was stymied by an on-track collision with his rival Lian Ziwen in a dramatic conclusion to the men’s 1,000 metres.
The Netherlands star won gold last year at the World Single Distances Championships, and raced a personal best of 1:06.44secs in Calgary at the end of 2025, with a spot on the podium on his mind as he started his race in Milan.
But racing against Chinese skater Lian, Wennemars found himself hampered as he prepared to cross into the inside track.
The two skaters were set to change lanes after a turn, but Wennemars as the athlete on the outside track is assumed to have right of way.
Instead, Lian took the aggressive move onto the outside and clipped the skate of a surprised Wennermars as he did so.
Caught off-guard, Wennermars was duly affected as he posted a time of 1:07.58secs, which placed him fifth in the standings – but just 0.24secs off the bronze medal time.
Dutch speed skater Joep Wennemars suffered heartbreak on his Olympic debut
The 23-year-old was hampered by his Chinese rival Lian Ziwen in the men’s 1,000m race
The 23-year-old cut a frustrated figure at the finish line, throwing up his arms as he reflected on his botched Olympic debut, and took a swipe at Lian when he attempted to talk to him to the sound of boos from the crowd.
Wennemars was later allowed to re-run his race after Lian was disqualified for his impediment.
But the heartbreak continued for the Dutch star, who was only able to slip down the standings when he took to the ice half an hour later, recording a slower time of 1:08.46secs.
Wennermars’ original time therefore stood, but it will have been no consolation, with his personal-best time capable of netting him a potential silver behind gold medalist Jordan Stolz.
Wennemars was in the outside lane but Lian overtook him riskily as he went to change lanes
Lian nicked Wennemars’ skate with the move and potentially cost him a shot at the podium
As they crossed the finish line, the Netherlands athlete was incensed by the disqualified skater’s move
The American star set an Olympic record with his time of 1:06.28secs, with Weenmars’ compatriot Jenning De Boo claiming silver, and China’s Ning Zhongyan in third place for bronze.
The Netherlands have a strong pedigree in speed skating, with the country taking 12 medals – including six golds – home from Beijing four years ago.
At Milano Cortina, Dutch star Jutta Leerdam has already won gold in the women’s 1,000m speed skating, doing so by setting a new Olympic record and watched in the stands by her tearful YouTuber boxer fiance Jake Paul.
