The 25-year-old skated a blistering 36.49 seconds at the Milan Speed Skating Stadium to claim the gold medal, her second medal at these Games after taking silver in the 1,000 metres.
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“This really is a relief. I am very proud to have made it possible,” Kok, the three-time reigning world champion in the 500 meters, told reporters. “This is what I dreamed of when I was a little girl and for it to happen today is very special.”
Kok’s Dutch teammate Jutta Leerdam won silver in the 500 meters with a time of 37.15 seconds and Japan’s Miho Takagi took bronze with a time of 37.27 seconds.
American Erin Jackson, who won gold in Beijing, finished fifth with a time of 37.32 seconds.
Netherlands gold medalist Femke Kok (R) poses for a photo with teammate and silver medalist Jutta Leerdam at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, Sunday, February 15, 2026. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI
Leerdam took gold in the women’s 1,000 meter speed skating event on February 9. Takagi won bronze in the event. The 31-year-old is Japan’s most decorated Olympian, having won seven Olympic medals before the Games in Italy. With two bronzes in Italy, he now has nine.
Fans show their support for the Netherlands’ Femke Kok during the women’s 500 meters final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, on Sunday, February 15, 2026. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI