At the time of his victory, Bergsma celebrated his 40th birthday, making him the first athlete at this age to win Olympic gold in this discipline. In the race, consisting of 16 laps, he was active from the very beginning and quickly created a significant distance from his competitors.
Together with Danish athlete Viktor Hald Thorup, he took the lead, but in the decisive moment of the race, Bergsma increased his advantage and confidently crossed the finish line first. The silver medal was awarded to Thorup.
Previously, the age record belonged to Ireen Wüst, who became an Olympic champion in 2022 at the age of 35. Among men, the oldest Olympic winner for many years was Clas Thunberg, who won gold at the age of 34 at the 1928 Games.
For Bergsma, this medal became the fourth in his Olympic career. He previously won gold in the 10,000 meters and bronze in the 5,000 meters at the 2014 Olympic Games, as well as silver in the 10,000 meters in 2018.
The victory at the competitions in Milan-Cortina once again confirmed his outstanding achievements and longevity in the sport, as well as solidified his reputation as one of the most consistent speed skaters of modern times.
