500 metres, Women

The overwhelming favourite for gold was Xandra Velzeboer, Netherlands. Since Beijing, she had won three of the four available World titles (2022-23 and 2025), losing only to Kim Boutin of Canada in 2024. In the 2025/26 season, she had claimed three of the four World Tour races, coming third in the fourth one that was won by another Canadian, Courtney Sarault.

Corie Stoddard of the United States had also had a successful season, ranking third in the World Tour, but she fell in her heat and was the first favourite to be eliminated. Velzeboer was clearly the fastest in the field, breaking the Olympic record in her quarter-final and then the World Record in her semi-final (41.399). In her shadow, Fontana cruised along to the final, while Sarault and Boutin dominated the other semi-final. Completing the field in the final was Selma Poutsma of the Netherlands. After a restart caused by a fall, Velzeboer was easily the fastest and opened large gap with Fontana, while the Italian was challenged by both Poutsma and Sarault. Velzeboer finished in another fast time (41.609, well below the old Olympic Record), as Fontana held off challenges from Sarault and Poutsma.

It was the first official gold medal for the Netherlands in the event, although Xandra’s aunt Monique Velzeboer had won the 500 m at the 1988 Calgary Olympics, when short track had been a demonstration sport. Fontana’s silver medal was her fifth in the 500 m, the most ever for a short track speed skater in a single event. Only one winter athlete, Armin Zöggeler, has won more medals in a single event, with six other winter athletes having won five like Fontana.