By Pearl Josephine Nazare MILAN, Feb 19 (Reuters) - China's Ning Zhongyan delivered a sensational performance to win the men's 1,500 metres at the Winter Olympics on Thursday, capturing his and his nation's first speed skating gold at these Games.

China's Ning Zhongyan set an Olympic record on his way to gold in the men's speed skating over 1,500 metres on Thursday, denying United States' Jordan Stolz a hat-trick of individual gold medals at the Milan/Cortina Winter Games.

Joep Wennemars went under the previous Olympic record in the men’s 1500m speed skating. But so did three others

USA speed skater Jordan Stolz finished second in the men's 1,500 behind China's Ning Zhongyan, who set an Olympic record en route to gold.

Italy upstaged world record-holding Team USA to win gold in the 2026 Winter Olympics men's speed skating team pursuit Tuesday in Milan.

The U.S. team featured Casey Dawson, Ethan Cepuran and Emery Lehman. Conor McDermott-Mostowy competed for the team in earlier rounds.

Three-times world champion Femke Kok glided to gold with an Olympic record in the women's speed skating 500 metres on Sunday. The Dutch skater, the world record holder over the short distance, went out last but showed no nerves as she beat the earlier time of compatriot and 1,