Casey Dawson Withdraws from Men’s 10,000 Meters
In a surprising turn of events at the Milan Cortina Olympics, Casey Dawson has opted out of the men’s 10,000 meters speedskating event, which is set to take place soon. This decision leaves the race without any representation from the United States.
Focus on Upcoming Events
Dawson, who had previously placed eighth in the 5,000 meters, has chosen to concentrate his efforts on the upcoming team pursuit quarterfinals scheduled for Sunday, as well as the individual 1,500 meters event that will take place next Thursday.
Strategic Withdrawal
U.S. Speedskating officials, including coach Gabe Girard, expressed that Dawson’s withdrawal was anticipated and part of a pre-existing strategy for managing his participation in the Games. Historically, the U.S. has struggled to make its mark in the 10,000 meters; the last American to secure gold in this event was Eric Heiden, who achieved this feat during his five Olympic wins at the Lake Placid Games in 1980. The most recent American medal in the 10,000 was a silver, clinched by Chad Hedrick at the 2006 Turin Olympics.
Top Competitors
As the race approaches, top competitors include Norway’s Sander Eitrem, who impressed with a record-breaking win in the 5,000 meters, and Italy’s Davide Giotto, who holds the world record for the 10,000 meters with a time of 12 minutes and 25.69 seconds, established in January 2025. Giotto previously medaled with a bronze at the Beijing Games in 2022.
Conclusion
Despite Dawson’s absence, the competition promises to be fierce as the world’s elite speedskaters prepare to take the ice.
