He was leading the 2021–22 ISU Speed Skating World Cup at long distances with four races completed before the Olympics, followed by Bloemen and Davide Ghiotto.

Van der Poel's world record, 6:01.56 in Salt Lake City on 3 December 2021, was thus the season best time.

In pair 5, Patrick Roest, skating essentially alone, since his competitor was far behind, took the lead, setting a new Olympic record.

This situation remained until the last pair, when Nils van der Poel, skating behind the Roest's scheme most of the distance, caught up at the last kilometer and became the champion with the new Olympic record.

In the flower ceremony after the race, the three medalists were handed an olympic mascot to take themselves from a board held by Jan Dijkema, President of the International Skating Union, dressed in face mask due to the ongoing pandemic.