Medal Count Olympics 2026: Netherlands Extend Lead as Speedskating Stars Add to Tally
On Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026 ET, the medal race at the Milano Cortina Games tightened as the Netherlands pushed their total to 11 medals following another dominant display on the speedskating oval. Femke Kok captured gold in the women’s 500 meters, with teammate Jutta Leerdam taking silver and Japan’s Miho Takagi earning bronze. The United States failed to place a skater on the podium in the event, leaving American hopes to be reshaped over the final week of competition.
Dutch dominance on the ice fuels medal surge
Femke Kok produced a fast, controlled run in the 500m, stopping the clock at an Olympic-record 36. 49 to secure the top spot. Leerdam, who had been the provisional leader earlier in the session with a time of 37. 15, had to settle for silver after Kok’s blistering final pairing. Miho Takagi collected bronze with a 37. 27, underscoring Japan’s continued presence among the speedskating elite.
The Dutch program’s depth was on full display. One Dutch skater set a new standard in the sprint, while another has already claimed a title in the 1, 000 meters earlier in the Games, reinforcing the team’s strength across distances. With one week remaining, the Netherlands sit in a strong position to add to their medal haul, capitalizing on speedskating events that remain on the schedule.
U. S. setbacks and Erin Jackson’s title defense
American expectations in the women’s sprint were high, in part because Erin Jackson entered the Games as the defending 500m champion. Jackson, who made history in 2022 as the first Black woman to win an individual Winter Olympic gold medal and served as a flag bearer this year, was vying to reclaim the top spot but finished fifth in the final with a time of 37. 32.
Her week has been a mix of highs and lows. An earlier stumble in the 1, 000 meters kept Jackson off the podium, but she returned to the Milano Speed Skating Stadium determined to defend her 500m title. Despite a strong effort, the podium eluded the United States in this event, leaving team leaders to look ahead to remaining races where medals are still attainable.
Final week to reshape the medal table
With roughly seven days of competition left, the overall medal table remains poised for movement. The Netherlands have leveraged their speedskating strength to climb the standings, while nations such as Japan are collecting key podiums in sprint and middle-distance events. Individual storylines — from champions seeking repeat golds to rising stars breaking through — will influence how the final medal counts settle.
For teams that underperformed in recent sessions, the remaining schedule provides opportunities in both individual and team events. Coaches and athletes are recalibrating strategies, aiming to convert late chances into medals and alter national tallies before the Closing Ceremony. The closing week promises intense racing on the ice and a potentially dramatic reshuffle of the medal leaderboard as nations chase final podiums.
As the Milano Cortina Games enter their final phase, all eyes will remain on the speedskating oval and other medal-bearing venues where fortunes can change quickly. The Netherlands’ strong position at 11 medals is a testament to their depth, but the race is far from over — and every event from now on carries the potential to rewrite the medal-count narrative.
