Marten Liiv, representing Estonia, competed in the men's 1000-meter speed skating event at the Milan Cortina Olympics but unfortunately finished in 14th place. Although he recorded a decent split of 16.37 seconds for the first 200 meters, his performance deteriorated as the race progressed, resulting in a significant defeat to his competitor, Poland's Damian Żurek. The winner of the event was American skater Jordan Stolz, who not only secured the gold medal but also set a new Olympic record with a time of 1:06.28.

The podium was completed by the Netherlands' Jenning de Boo and China's Ning Zhongyan, who posted impressive times of 1:06.78 and 1:07.34 respectively. Other notable competitors included Poland's Damian Żurek and Dutch skaters Joep Wennemars and Kjeld Nuis, who all recorded times around the top rankings. Liiv, participating in his third Olympics, aimed to improve upon his previous personal best and national record of 1:06.73 set in November of the previous year, making this competition a significant moment in his athletic career.

This event underscores the competitive nature of speed skating, particularly in Olympic settings where athletes are not only racing against each other but also striving to break established records. Despite Liiv's disappointment, his participation adds to Estonia's legacy in winter sports, and the experience gained from competing on such a prestigious stage could contribute positively to his future performances in international competitions.