Dutch speedskaters win 2 short track Olympics golds. Xandra Velzeboer also broke a world record

MILAN (AP) — Two days after leaving the ice in tears because her Dutch relay team failed to medal, Xandra Velzeboer won the women's 500 meters gold medal in short track speedskating at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Thursday night — and also broke her own world record in the semifinals.

“This is the best day of my life. It’s amazing,” Velzeboer said. “It’s been my goal for the last four years. Maybe for my entire life.”

Velzeboer finished first in the final in 41.609 seconds, ending Italian silver medalist Arianna Fontana's attempt to become the first woman to win three consecutive individual Winter Games short track golds at any distance. Fontana was more than a half-second behind — an eternity in a 500 — with a time of 42.294.

“Xandra, today, was on fire,” Fontana said. “I’m a little bit sad that I couldn’t stay with her.”

That dominant display came after Velzeboer clocked an Olympic-record 41.853 in the quarterfinals at the start of the evening, then established the new world mark of 41.399 in the semifinals. She had set the old standard for the distance of 41.416 in 2022.

Even if there was disappointment Tuesday for the relay result — Fontana helped Italy take the gold — Velzeboer said she felt as if she had skated well enough to gain some confidence for the 500.

“She puts a lot of pressure on herself, but she continues to perform with that pressure. That’s what makes someone special — being be able to perform with the pressure,” Canadian bronze medalist Courtney Sarault said about Velzeboer. “And I'm sure in the Netherlands, there’s a lot more pressure for short track speedskating than there is in Canada. And she keeps doing it.”

The considerable contingent of orange-clad Dutch fans had more reason to cheer a little later, when Jens van ’t Wout won the men's 1,000 with a terrific final surge and a close-as-can-be finish.

There were roars when he overtook Canada's William Dandjinou with about a lap to go for the lead, and those voices just kept rising, right until van ’t Wout spread his arms wide and threw his head back after recording a time of 1 minute, 24.537 seconds.

He skated around the ice, basking in it all, then headed to the center of the track with a flag as a cape and took a bow.

“For me, it was the best race that I’ve ever done,” van ’t Wout said. “It's amazing to be able to skate in Italy for so (many) Dutch people. To hear the whole crowd go crazy was beautiful. So beautiful.”

Sun Long of China was next in 1:24.565, followed by bronze medalist Jongun Rim of South Korea.

Velzeboer, 24, added this gold to the one she received as a member of the Dutch champions in the 3,000-meter relay at the 2022 Beijing Games. She's also a three-time world champion in the 500.

Fontana's silver was the 13th medal of her Olympic career, extending her record for short track. She got No. 12 overall — and her third gold — when Italy won the women's 3,000-meter relay on Tuesday.

“She’s Miss February,” Sarault said.

The 35-year-old Fontana, who trains in Salt Lake City, Montreal and Quebec City, is participating in her sixth Olympics. She made her debut at age 15 with a relay bronze at the 2006 Turin Games.

She said she keeps all of her medals in a bag under the desk in her parents' home.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Jens van 't Wout of the Netherlands wins gold during the short track speed skating men's 1000m at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

From left to right, silver medalist Arianna Fontana of Italy, gold medalist Xandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands and bronze medalist Courtney Sarault of Canada jump on the podium to receive their medals after the short track speed skating women's 500m at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Xandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands wins gold during the short track speed skating women's 500m at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Jens van 't Wout of the Netherlands wins gold during the short track speed skating men's 1000m at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Xandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands wins gold during the short track speed skating women's 500m at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Jens van 't Wout of the Netherlands wins gold during the short track speed skating men's 1000m at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Xandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands wins gold during the short track speed skating women's 500m at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

ODENSE, Denmark (AP) — Christian Eriksen is “in good spirits” and expected to leave the hospital soon after collapsing on the field again playing for Denmark, the national team's physician said Monday.

The 34-year-old Eriksen clutched his chest with both hands in an off-the-ball action before dropping to the ground in the 65th minute of Denmark’s international friendly against Ukraine in Odense, Denmark, on Sunday.

The midfielder walked off the field by himself after being attended by medical staff, the Danish soccer federation said after the match, and underwent more tests in Odense University Hospital.

In an update provided by the federation on Monday morning, Denmark team physician Morten Boesen said: "I spoke with Christian this morning, and he is doing well.

“He is with his family and is in good spirits. The expectation is that he will be discharged soon and can return home.”

Boesen said in the statement that the federation is “taking good care of the players and staff and remain in regular contact with them.”

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen posted on Facebook late Sunday that she was “sending my warmest thoughts to Christian Eriksen and to all those around him who are affected,” adding that she had been relieved to hear an update on his condition after the initial shock of his latest health incident.

The game was abandoned with no further play following Eriksen's collapse after the referee conferred with staff and players from both teams.

Eriksen was fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator in the months after suffering a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s opening group game in the European Championship in 2021.

He returned to playing less than a year after that incident, but had to leave Italy, where he'd been with Inter Milan. Italian health regulations prohibited players from playing with the implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Eriksen first returned to action in England with Brentford before three years at Manchester United, which he left as a free agent last year. His current team is Wolfsburg in Germany, where he has a contract through the 2026-27 season. The team wished him a swift recovery Sunday.

Denmark did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup beginning this week in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Denmark's players react after Patrick Dorgu scored against Ukraine during an international football match between Denmark and Ukraine, in Odense, Denmark, Sunday, June 7, 2026. Player Christian Eriksen (10) is second right. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Denmark's Joakim Maehle, Andreas Christensen, and Jens Stage react after Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field during the international friendly soccer match between Denmark and Ukraine in Odense, Denmark, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Denmark's William Osula reacts after Denmark's player Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field during the international friendly soccer match between Denmark and Ukraine in Odense, Denmark, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Denmark's Christian Eriksen, left, in action with Ukraine's Mykola Matviyenko during an international football game, in Odense, Denmark, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)