Velzeboer breaks women's 500m short track world record at Milan-Cortina

Gold medalist Xandra Velzeboer (C) of the Netherlands, silver medalist Arianna Fontana (L) of Italy and Courtney Sarault of Canada pose for photos during the awarding ceremony of the short track speed skating women's 500m at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)

MILAN, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Xandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands broke the women's 500m short track speed skating world record at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games on Thursday.

Velzeboer clocked 41.399 seconds in the semifinals, beating her own previous mark of 41.416 set in Salt Lake City in 2022. ■

Arianna Fontana (2nd R) of Italy competes during the short track speed skating women's 500m final A at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)

Xandra Velzeboer (front) of the Netherlands celebrates after the short track speed skating women's 500m final A at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ming)

Gold medalist Xandra Velzeboer (C) of the Netherlands, silver medalist Arianna Fontana (L) of Italy, and Courtney Sarault of Canada take a selfie during the awarding ceremony of the short track speed skating women's 500m at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)

Xandra Velzeboer (front) of the Netherlands celebrates after the short track speed skating women's 500m final A at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ming)

Xandra Velzeboer (R) of the Netherlands and Arianna Fontana of Italy compete during the short track speed skating women's 500m final A at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ming)

Gold medalist Xandra Velzeboer (C) of the Netherlands, silver medalist Arianna Fontana (L) of Italy, and Courtney Sarault of Canada pose for photos during the awarding ceremony of the short track speed skating women's 500m at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy, Feb. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)