The icy stage of the Milan Speed Skating Stadium was set for drama on February 20, 2026, as the world's finest speed skaters gathered for the men's 1500m event at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Among them was South Korea's Jeong Jae-won, a seasoned Olympian and silver medalist in the mass start from the 2022 Beijing Games, stepping into the 1500m for the first time in his Olympic career. Expectations were high, and the field was packed with world-class talent, but it was China's Ning Zhongyan who electrified the crowd and etched his name into the Olympic record books.
Jeong Jae-won, representing Gangwon Province Office and just 25 years old, took to the ice as the first starter in the 30-man field. His final time, 1 minute 45.80 seconds, placed him 14th overall—a solid showing, especially considering this was his debut in the event at the Olympics. Jeong's race strategy was clear: start steady, then ramp up the pace. He began from the inside lane, clocking a 300m split of 24.45 seconds, which left him in 24th at that mark. But Jeong is known for his strength in the latter stages, and true to form, he accelerated after the 1000m mark, putting up strong splits in the final laps and finishing well ahead of his Belgian pair, Mathias Vosté.
"It was my first international 1500m in about two years. I’ve only been training for the mass start, so it felt a bit unfamiliar, but my time wasn’t bad. I’m satisfied with my preparation for the mass start," Jeong reflected after the race, according to News1. The 1500m wasn’t originally on his Olympic schedule—he’d planned to focus solely on his main event, the mass start, set for February 21. However, with the event just two days prior, Jeong made a last-minute decision to enter the 1500m, hoping to sharpen his race instincts and get a feel for the Milan ice. "I think I’m almost completely ready for the mass start. There are areas, like cornering skills, where I have an edge over others, and I’ll try to use those strengths to handle any variables," he added.
Jeong’s sense of responsibility as a leader for the Korean team was palpable. "This time, I feel a big sense of duty as the ace of the speed skating team," he said. "I believe I have a good chance to win a medal, so I’m determined to give it my all and stand on the highest podium." As a veteran of three Olympics—having taken silver in team pursuit at Pyeongchang 2018 and another silver in mass start at Beijing 2022—Jeong’s hunger for gold remains undiminished.
While Jeong was using the 1500m as a tune-up, the race itself unfolded at a blistering pace. The spotlight shone brightest on Ning Zhongyan of China, who delivered a sensational performance. Blazing through the distance in 1 minute 41.98 seconds, Ning not only captured the gold medal but also shattered the Olympic record. His time was just 1.81 seconds shy of the world record, demonstrating the razor-thin margins at the sport’s elite level. The Chinese skater’s victory was historic—he became the first Asian athlete to win Olympic gold in the men’s 1500m speed skating, breaking the European stranglehold on the event.
Ning’s triumph capped a remarkable Olympics for him. He had already bagged bronze medals in both the men's 1000m and the team pursuit, making this gold his third medal of the Games. His mid-race surge, particularly after the 700m mark, left the field in his wake. "Ning Zhongyan earned his third Olympic medal at this Games, having previously won bronze in the team pursuit," reported Newsis, underscoring the magnitude of his accomplishment.
Hot on Ning’s heels was American sensation Jordan Stolz. A pre-race favorite and already a double gold medalist at Milan-Cortina in the 500m and 1000m, Stolz was gunning for a historic triple crown. He finished in 1 minute 42.75 seconds, claiming the silver but falling just short of his golden ambitions. The disappointment was clear—Stolz had set Olympic records in his previous wins, but Ning’s pace on this day was simply untouchable. Still, Stolz added a silver to his growing collection and also picked up another silver in the team pursuit, further cementing his status as a powerhouse in the sport.
The bronze went to Dutch veteran Kjeld Nuis, who at 36 years old proved he’s still a force to be reckoned with. Nuis clocked in at 1 minute 42.82 seconds, narrowly missing out on silver but securing a place on the podium for a third straight Olympics. His time was even faster than the Olympic record he set four years earlier in Beijing, but the competition in Milan was fierce—no fewer than four skaters broke the previous Olympic record during this final, including Dutchman Jorrit Venemars, who finished just off the podium in fourth with a time of 1 minute 43.05 seconds.
Another notable storyline was the performance of Kim Min-seok, a former Korean national team member now representing Hungary after naturalization. Kim, who had previously made history as the first Asian medalist in this event with a bronze at Pyeongchang 2018 and repeated the feat at Beijing 2022, was aiming for a third consecutive Olympic medal. He finished seventh in Milan, clocking 1 minute 45.13 seconds—a strong effort, though not enough for the podium this time around.
The men’s 1500m has long been a challenging event for Asian skaters, with European athletes traditionally dominating the discipline. Kim Min-seok’s earlier breakthroughs had paved the way, but Ning Zhongyan’s gold now marks a new era. The event also highlighted the depth of talent in the Dutch camp, with both Nuis and Venemars pushing the pace and Jorrit Bergsma also making his presence felt.
For Jeong Jae-won, the focus now shifts to the mass start—his signature event—where he’ll face off against a stacked field that includes Dutch legend Jorrit Bergsma, Belgian star Bart Swings, and American ace Jordan Stolz. With his confidence boosted and his form tuned, Jeong is poised for another shot at Olympic glory. The world will be watching closely as he takes to the ice, hoping to add another chapter to his already impressive Olympic story.
As the dust settles on an unforgettable night in Milan, the men’s 1500m has delivered both record-breaking performances and milestones that will echo in speed skating history. All eyes now turn to the upcoming events, where the pursuit of Olympic dreams continues on the ice.