The Italian speed skating team celebrates their victory. © APA/afp / DANIEL MUNOZ

Azzurri win gold in the team pursuit

Italy won gold in the men's team pursuit. The USA took silver, while China narrowly won bronze in the bronze medal race.

February 17, 2026

From: do

Italy won the men's team pursuit gold medal at the Milan/Cortina Olympics. Davide Ghiotto, Andrea Giovannini, and Michele Malfatti decisively defeated the USA in the final, securing their first gold medal in this discipline in 20 years. This is the 24th medal for the host country at these Games and their ninth gold.

At the halfway point of the race, the Azzurri were still about half a second behind, but improved significantly in the final laps of the final. Italy turned up the heat and gained another 4,51 seconds on the United States. The winning time was 3:39.20 minutes, and the USA had to settle for a clear silver medal.

The Azzurri are a well-oiled machine. © ANSA / ROBERT GHEMENT

China secured the bronze medal in the small final – but by the narrowest of margins. Although the Chinese were almost two seconds ahead of the Netherlands at one point, their pace dropped in the final laps. China ultimately won with a time of 3:41.38, just nine hundredths of a second ahead of the Netherlands. This is the country's first Olympic medal for men in this event.

Canada celebrates in the women's competition

In the women's team pursuit, Canada took the Olympic gold medal. The North Americans prevailed in the final with a time of 2:55.81, beating the Netherlands, who finished 0,96 seconds behind and took silver. Japan secured bronze ahead of the USA.