The Biggest Betting Wins in Speed Skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo delivered thrilling moments in speed skating, where unexpected victories turned the tide for bettors worldwide. Held from February 6 to 22, the events at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium showcased intense competitions across various distances, drawing millions of viewers and sparking a surge in wagering activity. Athletes from nations like the United States, Netherlands, Italy, and China battled for medals, with several underdogs defying odds to claim glory. This led to some of the largest recorded payouts in Olympic betting history, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the sport.

Amid the excitement of these races, where skaters pushed human limits on ice, platforms such as Albionbet witnessed record engagement as fans placed wagers on live outcomes. The combination of high-stakes drama and technological advancements in tracking allowed for real-time odds adjustments, amplifying the thrill for participants globally. As results unfolded, several bettors reaped enormous rewards from foresight or sheer luck on improbable winners.

The Shocking 1500m Triumph: Ning Zhongyan's Golden Upset

One of the most talked-about events was the men's 1500 meters on February 19, where China's Ning Zhongyan stunned the world by clinching gold with an Olympic record time of 1:41.98. Entering as a 10-to-1 underdog, Ning faced overwhelming favorite Jordan Stolz from the United States, who had already secured two golds earlier in the Games. Stolz, a 21-year-old phenom from Wisconsin, dominated the 500 meters and 1000 meters, setting world records in both with times of 33.77 seconds and 1:06.28 respectively. His prowess in middle-distance races made him a -3000 odds-on choice, but fatigue from multiple events caught up, leaving him 0.77 seconds behind for silver.

Ning, a 26-year-old from Heilongjiang Province, had shown promise in World Cup races but never at this level. His strategy involved a blistering start and sustained pace, overtaking the field in the final laps. This upset resulted in massive payouts, including one anonymous bettor who staked $50,000 on Ning at 10-to-1 odds, walking away with $500,000. Another reported win saw a $10,000 wager yield $100,000, as Ning's victory defied predictions and rewarded those betting on his potential breakthrough.

Home Crowd Heroics: Francesca Lollobrigida's 3000m Victory

Italy's Francesca Lollobrigida provided a fairy-tale moment in the women's 3000 meters on February 7, capturing gold in 6:46.17 amid roaring home support. As the host nations star, the 34-year-old from Frascati edged out Dutch skater Merel Conijn by just 0.10 seconds, with Norway's Ragne Wiklund taking bronze at 6:46.34. Lollobrigida, a dual-sport athlete who also competes in roller speed skating, was listed at 5-to-1 odds pre-race, overshadowed by Dutch dominance in long-distance events. Her performance featured consistent lap times around 31 seconds, building momentum to hold off challengers in the closing stages.

This win sparked jubilation across Italy and led to significant betting successes. A notable payout involved a $20,000 bet on Lollobrigida at 5-to-1, netting $100,000 for the fortunate individual. Another story emerged of a group wager totaling $30,000 that returned $150,000, celebrating her as an inspirational figure who transitioned from summer sports to winter Olympic success.

Team Pursuit Drama: Italy's Golden Surge Over USA

The men's team pursuit on February 17 saw Italy claim gold in a nail-biting final against the United States, finishing in 3:35.12 to the Americans 3:36.45. The Italian trio of Davide Ghiotto, Andrea Giovannini, and Michele Malfatti executed flawless exchanges and maintained superior speed, overcoming a semifinal where they barely advanced. The USA team, comprising Ethan Cepuran, Casey Dawson, and Emery Lehman, entered as favorites at -150 odds after strong qualifying rounds but faltered in the final due to a minor slip in coordination.

Giovannini, a 32-year-old veteran, anchored the team with powerful pushes, while Ghiotto set the early pace. This home victory, Italy's first in the event since 2010, was a 3-to-1 underdog story. Bettors capitalized heavily, with one $100,000 stake on Italy yielding $300,000. A smaller but impressive $15,000 bet returned $45,000, as the race emphasized teamwork and strategy in speed skating relays.

Mass Start Mayhem: Jorrit Bergsmas Breakaway Win

In the men's mass start on February 21, Netherlands's Jorrit Bergsma broke away early to win gold in 7:55.50, nearly five seconds ahead of Denmark's Viktor Hald Thorup in silver and Italy's Andrea Giovannini in bronze. The 16-lap race, known for its chaos with sprints for points, saw Bergsma, a 39-year-old long-distance specialist, listed at 8-to-1 odds. He capitalized on a mid-race split, leaving favorites like Jordan Stolz, who finished fourth, in the dust.

Bergsma's tactic of conserving energy before surging proved masterful, earning him his second Olympic mass start gold. This result generated huge wins, including a $25,000 bet at 8-to-1 that paid out $200,000. Another $40,000 wager netted $320,000, rewarding insight into his endurance background from marathon skating.