– Total scandal! He just drives straight on. Then Wennemars will suffer here, commented NRK’s skating expert Even Wetten.
On the last changeover during the men’s 1000 meter skating, there was complete chaos when Chinese Ziwen Lian was about to drop Dutch Joep Wennemars in front of her.
The Chinese didn’t seem to care that the Dutchman was coming and they went right into each other.
The rules say that when the athletes come next to each other on the exchange side has the runner with the last inner right-of-way.
– One of the most dramatic moments in the Olympics
Thus it was the Chinese’s fault that the Dutchman had to slow down, and Lian was dished out.
– It was an accident. I didn’t see Wennermars. I just felt that he was very close to me. When I saw him, he was very close, says Lian to NRK after the race.
– I’m very sorry, he follows up.
Due to the crash, Wennemars had to re-run his 1000m without a partner.
– This is a tragedy, Wetten said during the lap.
Because there he had no chance. With 1.08.46, he finished 88 hundredths slower than in his original race.
This left him with a 5th place.
– This is one of the most dramatic moments, purely tactical, sports-technical, that I have seen in the Olympics. It is a medal that is breaking, says NRK’s expert Wetten.
He believes that the Dutchman would have gone under 1 minute and seven seconds if the accident had not happened. In that case, it would have been enough for a bronze medal.
Wennemars has made a mark in skating in recent years. The biggest achievement is the WC gold in the 1000 meters during the WC in 2025, where he beat profiles such as Jenning De Boo and Olympic gold winner Jordan Stolz.
Olympic record
In the penultimate pair, Jordan Stolz went for Olympic gold with an Olympic record:
1.06,28
– It is to order, says commentator Wetten.
Far behind the medals
Trønder Bjørn Magnussen was the only Norwegian to start in the 1000 metres.
In the fourth pair he went into third place with a time of 1.09.38 in the harbor down to 21st place.
– It was actually pretty good. I felt the opening came quite easily. 16.2 is the fastest I’ve opened all year. It indicates that the acceleration is good in any case, says Magnussen to NRK after the race.
Magnussen has the 500 meters as his biggest chance during the Games.
American ice skating star
NRK’s skating expert Wetten used big words about Stolz. This season he has five out of five World Cup victories.
It is the skater of all time who has allowed himself to be impressed the most by watching.
– Of the ones I’ve seen, and I’ve seen quite a few, he is clearly the best skater.
Wetten thinks so, regardless of distance.
– First and foremost, he is physically unique, says Wetten.
Published
11.02.2026, at 19.35
Updated
11.02.2026, at 20.29