MILAN, Italy — The penultimate day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games delivered a masterclass in endurance and tactical brilliance as the men’s mass start events across speed skating, cross-country skiing, and biathlon reached their dramatic conclusions on 21 February 2026.
In a day defined by veteran dominance and historic sweeps, the Netherlands and Norway solidified their positions at the top of the medal table, while Team Canada celebrated a repeat podium performance on the ice.
Speed Skating: Bergsma’s Ageless Triumph
At the Rho Fiera Milano speed skating oval, 40-year-old Dutch legend Jorrit Bergsma stunned the field to capture the gold medal in the men’s mass start. Bergsma, who became the oldest-ever Olympic speed skating medallist earlier in the Games with a bronze in the 10,000m, executed a daring early breakaway alongside Denmark’s Viktor Hald Thorup. The duo maintained their gap through the final laps, with Thorup taking the silver and Vincent De Haître of Belgium securing bronze.
The race was a disappointment for American phenom Jordan Stolz, who entered as a favourite but finished fourth, narrowly missing his fourth medal of the Games. On the women’s side, Canada’s Ivanie Blondin successfully defended her Olympic silver medal, finishing just behind gold medallist Marijke Groenewoud of the Netherlands.
Cross-Country: Klæbo’s Historic Six
In Val di Fiemme, Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo etched his name into the record books by winning the men’s 50km mass start classic. The victory marked Klæbo’s sixth gold medal of these Games, setting a new record for the most gold medals won by an athlete in a single Winter Olympics. He now holds eight career Olympic golds, equalling the all-time record for Winter Olympians.
Canada’s Antoine Cyr delivered a standout performance in the grueling 50km event, finishing 11th. It marked a personal best individual Olympic result for the Gatineau, Quebec native, who completed the classic-style race in a time that kept him within the lead pack for much of the afternoon.
Biathlon: Norwegian Sweep at Antholz
The biathlon 15km mass start saw a dominant display by the Norwegian contingent. Johannes Dale-Skjevdal claimed the Olympic gold medal following a clinical shooting performance and a powerful final lap. He was followed across the line by teammate Sturla Holm Lægreid, who took the silver. The podium sweep was a testament to Norway’s depth in the sport, which has seen them dominate the 2025-26 World Cup circuit leading into these Games.
Team Canada Update
Beyond the mass start events, Canadian fans had much to celebrate on Day 15:
- Men’s Hockey: Team Canada advanced to the gold-medal final after a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Finland. Captain Connor McDavid led the charge, setting up a high-stakes final against the winner of the second semi-final.
- Curling: Team Brad Jacobs booked a ticket to the gold-medal game after defeating Norway 5-4 in a tense extra-end semi-final.
As the flame prepares to be extinguished tomorrow, the “Mass Start Saturday” will be remembered as the day the veterans proved that experience remains the ultimate asset on the Olympic stage.