Team Pursuit (8 laps), Men

Since becoming a World Championship event in 2005, the team pursuit had been won by the Dutch team 12 times, and only once by another nation (the US, in 2011). Despite this dominance, the Netherlands only once captured Olympic gold, in 2014. For Beijing, the Dutch were once again favored, but with ageing great Sven Kramer and Marcel Bosker they had two riders without any great individual performances at the Olympics. In addition, other nations had pioneered team pursuit tactics, including pushing the skater in front of you (allowing for better aerodynamics and transfer of speed) as well as choosing not to switch the leading skater. In recent World Cups, the United States had been particularly successful with these tactics, winning twice and bettering the world record. Defending champions Norway were also favored, although their top skater, Sverre Lunde Pedersen, had only barely recovered from a horrific cycling crash in the summer of 2021, which had left him with severe leg, neck and liver injuries.

Two of the favorites met in the quarter-finals. The Norwegians led the entire race, but only narrowly held off the US, which finished only 0.04 behind. With 3:37.47, Norway recorded the fastest qualifying time. The Dutch set the third time, while ROC took the final semi spot. That was slightly surprising, as they had only qualified for the Games by time (not performances).

As in 2018, Norway knocked out the Netherlands in the semi-finals, by a clear margin. The other semi-final was a much closer affair. ROC got off to a quick start, but the US were even again halfway. The ROC skaters then pulled away slightly towards an impressive 3:36.62, the best time ever recorded at sea level and an Olympic Record.

Despite setting the second fastest time of the tournament, this left the Americans to fight for bronze, which they easily claimed against the Netherlands. This left the Dutch medal-less for the first time in the event, while the Americans saw former inline speed skating great Joey Mantia finally claim his first Olympic medal at his third Games.

In the final, ROC seemed to have spent all their energy in the semi-finals. Trailing by 0.24 after half a lap already, they never came closer, making Norway the first repeat champions in the event, although Pedersen was the only skater to race on both victorious teams.