A disqualification and subsequent re-run in the men’s 1000-meter speed skating event at the Winter Olympics in Milan has sparked outrage, with NRK-expert Even Wetten calling the situation a “total scandal.” The incident centered around Dutch skater Joep Wennemars, who was initially set to contend for a medal before a collision disrupted his race.
During the race on Wednesday, Wennemars’ momentum was broken when his heatmate, Lian Ziwen, crossed into his lane. Wennemars finished fifth with a time of 1:07.58 and immediately expressed his frustration with Ziwen, according to Dagbladet.
Olympic rules allow a skater to re-run the distance if impeded. Wennemars was granted a second attempt just half an hour later, but was unable to improve his time. He voiced strong criticism of the timing, stating to the Dutch broadcaster NOS that it was “incredible that I have to start again in less than half an hour. Every minute counts. And it never makes sense to run it again.”
Wetten acknowledged the rules allowed for the re-run, but the short timeframe for the second attempt drew criticism. The NRK expert did not advocate for a rule change, but the incident has ignited debate about the fairness of the current regulations.
The controversy unfolds as the Norwegian Olympic team opened the games with a parade at the San Siro stadium, though concerns are simmering beneath the surface regarding training oversight for Norwegian athletes, according to a separate report in Dagbladet. That report notes an ongoing police investigation in Italy regarding the medical reasons behind an athlete’s death, a matter separate from the Wennemars incident but contributing to a climate of unease.
As of February 13, 2026, no official statement has been released by the International Olympic Committee regarding the incident or potential review of the rules governing re-runs in speed skating.
