MILAN, Italy — In a historic day for Dutch speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Femke Kok captured the silver medal in the women’s 1000m, contributing to a dominant 1-2 finish for the Netherlands on Monday, February 09, 2026.
The 25-year-old sprint specialist delivered a breathtaking performance at the Milano-Cortina Games, initially shattering the Olympic record with a time of 1:12.59. Kok’s mark surpassed the previous record held by American Brittany Bowe, momentarily placing her in the gold medal position with only two heats remaining. However, her teammate and rival Jutta Leerdam followed in the final pairing, edging Kok out by just 0.28 seconds to claim the gold with a new record of 1:12.31.
A Weekend of Speed Skating Excellence
Kok’s silver medal in the 1000m follows an exceptional run of form leading into the Games. Earlier this season, Kok established herself as the woman to beat in the sprint distances, having broken the 500m world record with a blistering 36.09 seconds during the ISU World Cup circuit. Her performance in Milan solidifies her status as one of the most versatile sprinters in the world, successfully transitioning her 500m explosive power into the longer 1000m event.
“Femke Kok brought the house down,” reported observers at the oval, noting the poignancy of the moment as Kok watched from the sidelines while Leerdam narrowly eclipsed her time. Despite the narrow miss for gold, the result marks Kok’s first individual Olympic medal in the 1000m, adding to a trophy cabinet that already includes multiple European and World Championship titles.
The Dutch Dominance Continues
The rivalry between Kok and Leerdam has been the focal point of the 2025-26 skating season. While Leerdam entered the Games as the favorite in the 1000m, Kok had recently outperformed her in several 500m heats, including the Olympic qualifiers where Kok set a track record of 36.87 seconds.
The final podium for the women’s 1000m saw the Netherlands take the top two spots, with Japan’s Miho Takagi securing the bronze. American veteran Brittany Bowe finished just off the podium in fourth place.
About Femke Kok
Born on October 5, 2000, in Drachten, Netherlands, Femke Kok has been a rising star in the skating world since her debut. She first gained international prominence by winning the World Junior Speed Skating Championships and has since become a cornerstone of the Dutch national team. Known for her rapid starts and technical precision, Kok remains a heavy favorite for the upcoming 500m event later this week.
As the 2026 Winter Olympics continue, all eyes remain on the Dutch contingent as they look to sweep the sprint podiums in Milan.