At 40 years old, most athletes have long since hung up their competitive gear, but Dutch speed skater Jorrit Bergsma proved age is just a number when he captured Olympic gold in Milan on Saturday.
The veteran competitor shocked the field during the men’s mass start competition, executing a bold strategy alongside Denmark’s Viktor Hald Thorup with a surprise attack during the third lap of the 16-lap event.
“I do not know yet if I will be back in four years, but now I guess I have to defend my title, right?” Bergsma said after his stunning victory.
The pair quickly established a substantial advantage over their competitors – at times leading by more than half a lap – while the remaining skaters failed to mount an immediate response. With just a few laps remaining, Bergsma made his decisive move, pulling away from Thorup to secure the win.
“I do not think I realise just yet what I have done. I even had to pinch myself when I was standing on the podium,” the champion reflected.
Looking ahead to the 2030 Winter Olympics, when he would be 44, Bergsma acknowledged the challenges but remained optimistic about his future in the sport.
“Four years is going to be really tough, especially with the young guys coming up on the single distances. I will see year by year, but I am not done yet,” he stated.
This latest achievement enhances Bergsma’s already impressive Olympic collection, which features his 10,000m championship from Sochi 2014, a silver medal from Pyeongchang 2018, and bronze medals in the 5,000m at Sochi and 10,000m at Milano Cortina.
“I had already won bronze, so my Olympic Games were already complete, but to be standing here with a gold medal as a 40-year-old guy is a privilege, even more so that I managed to do it in the mass start. I did not expect this at all,” Bergsma explained.
The number 13 played a special role in Bergsma’s success story. He competed wearing helmet number 13, having previously earned his 10,000m bronze medal on February 13.
“It has been my lucky number already. In the Netherlands, I am skating marathons with leg number 13. One week ago I won a bronze medal on Friday the 13th. And today I win with number 13. It is like magic for me,” he revealed.
In a remarkable coincidence, Bergsma’s February 1st birthday would align perfectly with the opening ceremony of the 2030 Winter Olympics, should he decide to extend his career for another Olympic cycle.
