Relay (5,000 metres), Men

With four golds, including in 2022, Canada had historically been the strongest relay nation, and they were also the favorites for 2026. With top riders like William Dandjinou and Steven Dubois, they were the reigning World Champions. But China had also won recent World titles (2023 and 2024), as had South Korea (2022). The Koreans had been the strongest in the World Tour 2025/26, winning two races, with the other two wins earned by Canada and the Netherlands. The latter team was headed by Jens van ‘t Wout, who had already earned two golds and a bronze in Milano. The host nation was also expected to be a factor, with Pietro Sighel having already successfully anchored the mixed relay.

Both semi-finals were closely fought, but with three contenders in the first semi-final, one needed to be eliminated. China was unable to fight off Canada and Italy. In the other heat, Korea and Netherlands qualified. While it was expected that Canada would dominate, it was South Korea and Netherlands setting the pace throughout the race. Just before the start of the final rotation, at 7 laps, Van ‘t Wout of the Netherlands passed Hwang Dae-Heon of Korea on the inside. A poor exchange by Italy allowed the Canadians to move into third. Just as Dubois challenged the Koreans for second, Italy made up for their poor exchange by sliding into third again with a great push. Thomas Nadalini followed it up by also passing the Koreans. All these maneuvers gave the Dutch room at the front, and at the final exchange Van ‘t Wout sped away from the others. In the final lap, Hwang passed Sighel on the outside to move Korea up to silver, and Italy to bronze.

It was first ever medal for the Netherlands in the event, having previously reached the final in 2014, when the team fell in the first curve and never made up for it. For Korea it was the fourth silver medal in the relay, more than any other NOC. With his third gold of the Games, Jens van ‘t Wout tied with Viktor An for most golds by a short-tracker in a single Olympics. An performed the feat twice: in 2006 and 2014.