Brothers Win Silver and Bronze at Speed Skating Worlds

Two brothers who grew up dreaming of standing on an Olympic podium together just made that dream a reality at the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships.

Jens and Melle van 't Wout both reached the 500m final in Milan this week, with Melle taking silver and Jens earning bronze behind Canadian winner Steven Dubois. For the van 't Wout family, the moment was pure magic.

"Ever since we started to enjoy the sport, we've wanted to go to the Olympics together," Jens told reporters after the race. "We've always talked about: imagine if we both get to the final of the 500m and then make it to the podium."

The 24-year-old Jens came into the race as the favorite after dominating the 1000m and 1500m events earlier in the week, winning gold in both. But the 500m proved trickier, with a slow start pushing him back to fourth place temporarily.

Meanwhile, his older brother Melle was having the race of his life. The 26-year-old, who celebrated his birthday that same day, skated to second place in what became an unforgettable birthday present.

Why This Inspires

What makes this story even more remarkable is Melle's journey back to the ice. A serious knee injury kept him out of competition for two full years, a period that could have ended his career entirely.

His younger brother recognized the sacrifice and determination it took. "If anyone has worked hard for this, it's Melle," Jens said after their shared podium moment.

The brothers' bond was visible in every celebration photo, their joy amplified by sharing it together. For years, they had visualized this exact scenario, talking about what it would feel like to stand side by side as medal winners.

That childhood conversation became reality in Milan, proving that some dreams are worth chasing together.