Joep Benemars, a rising speed skating star from the Netherlands, faced a setback during the men's 1000m event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan after colliding with Chinese skater Lian Ziwen. The incident occurred when Lian, attempting to exit from the inside lane to the outside, inadvertently touched Benemars' skate, throwing him off balance and preventing him from finishing in medal contention. Despite Benemars starting strongly, he was unable to regain his footing after the collision, ultimately placing 5th with a time of 1:07.58.

The collision raised questions regarding Lian's sportsmanship, as the rules dictate that the incoming outside skater must yield to the inside skater when switching lanes to avoid accidents. Lian's aggressive maneuver resulted in his disqualification. Following the incident, Benemars argued for a rerun, permitted under certain distressing conditions in speed skating; however, after a brief rest and racing alone without competitors, he could not improve on his previous time, impacting his chances of medaling significantly.

Expressing his frustration in a post-race interview, Benemars reflected on how Lian's actions obstructed his route and left him devastated, stating that his Olympic dreams felt shattered. Despite Lian's apology, Benemars dismissed it as inadequate, lamenting the loss of a medal opportunity and expressing disbelief at the unfortunate turn of events, illustrating the emotional rollercoaster elite athletes often face in high-stakes competitions like the Olympics.