Mass Start, Women

Since the retirement of 2022 champion Irene Schouten, the top mass start skater had been her team mate, Marijke Groenewoud. World Champion in 2021, 2023, and 2025, she had been first or second at the last four World Cup races as well. However, her performances in Milano had been below expectations. Her biggest opponent was expected to be 2022 runner-up Ivanie Blondin, who had finished second at the World Championships in all years since Beijing (and six times total), and had won the 2nd World Cup of the season. Competition was expected from the World Cup classification winner, Mia Manganello and Francesca Lollobrigida, who had won bronze at the 2025 Worlds and had already earned two golds at the Games.

All the favourites made it to the final, as well as – in the case of Groenewoud, Blondin and Manganello – their team mates. Blondin’s teammate Valérie Maltais fell early in the race, but was able to reconnect with the pack. All escape attempts were quickly countered by Groenewoud’s compatriot Bente Kerkhoff, so that Groenewoud would be able to use her sprinting capabilities. Groenewoud then surprised by starting the final sprint early, more than 1 lap before the finish line. She quickly gained about 10-15 m, with Manganello leading the chase. Blondin moved into second going into the final straight but was unable to catch Groenewoud. Manganello held a clear gap to Lollobrigida to earn the bronze.

Groenewoud’s gold was the second consecutive gold in the event for the Netherlands. With her second silver medal in the event, Blondin tied Schouten’s record of two medals in the mass start. Manganello’s bronze was the first in the event for the United States. A 36-year-old, she was the third oldest woman to win an Olympic speed skating medal.