Davide Ghiotto Leads Italy’s Strong 10,000m Lineup
As the excitement builds for the men’s 10,000m speed skating event at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, all eyes are on Italian skater Davide Ghiotto. The race is set to take place on February 13, from 10:00 AM to 12:05 PM Eastern Time, with various streaming options available on Peacock and NBC Sports.
Davide Ghiotto: A Strong Contender
Davide Ghiotto, a three-time reigning world champion, is a local favorite as he aims for his first Olympic medal in this competition. He narrowly missed the podium in the 5000m event but is determined to excel in the longer race. Ghiotto made headlines in January 2035 by breaking the 10,000m world record, previously held by Swedish legend Nils van der Poel.
- World Record Time: Ghiotto averaged sub-30-second laps for the entire 25-lap race.
- Previous Achievement: Bronze medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics in the same event.
Competition Details
This season, the 10,000m distance has only been contested once at the World Cup level, which took place in Heerenveen, Netherlands. Ghiotto finished second in that race, behind rising star Metodej Jilek from Czechia.
- Metodej Jilek: Aged 19, he has quickly ascended in the men’s long-distance skating field.
- Recent Achievements: Won the 5000m at the world juniors in February 2025 and secured bronze in the 10,000m at the 2025 senior world championships.
- World Cup Season Title: Jilek claimed his first title after four podium finishes this season.
Other Notable Athletes
Ghiotto’s main competitors also include:
- Sander Eitrem (Norway):
- Specializes in the 5000m with a world title and world record.
- Finished 6th in the 2024 World Championships and improved to 5th place in 2025.
- Timothy Loubineaud (France):
- Broke the 5000m world record at the 2025-26 World Cup opener.
- Took 7th in the 10,000m at the 2025 World Championships.
American Representation
The American skater Casey Dawson, who holds the national record in the 10,000m, has withdrawn from the race early this Friday morning. Dawson was the sole American qualified for this event.
As the men’s 10,000m race approaches, all eyes will be on Davide Ghiotto and his competitors as they vie for Olympic glory in a highly competitive field.
