ISU

Things could not be clearer – or indeed more exciting – after two of the six 2023/24 ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating rounds: no one has any idea who will lift the coveted Crystal Globes, presented by Dunamu, come the end of the season. The home crowd will be hoping the Liu brothers – accompanied by the likes of Lin Xiaojun, Sun Long and returning Olympic Champion Ren Ziwei – will lead the China men’s team to glory at the latest ISU World Cup in Beijing, 8-10 December.

The Dutch women’s Short Track speed skating team continued their love affair with Beijing’s Capital Indoor Stadium, winning gold-silver-gold in the space of little more than 30 minutes on Day 2 of the ISU World Cup. But they were not the only nation celebrating a one-two, with Kristen Santos-Griswold (USA) leading home teammate Corinne Stoddard in the 1000m. 

Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava (GEO) took a dominating lead as the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final continued Thursday in Beijing (CHN) with the Junior Pairs Short Program. The Final features the top six Skaters/Couples per discipline from the seven events of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. 

“Quad God” Ilia Malinin (USA) pulled off his signature quad Axel to win the Men’s Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Beijing (CHN) Thursday. The ISU Grand Prix Final features the best six Skaters/Couples in each discipline of the Grand Prix events competing against each other for the first time this season. Thirty-six Skaters/Couples representing nine countries will compete in Beijing.

Newcomers Minerva Hase/Nikita Volodin (GER) claimed the Pairs Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Beijing (CHN) Thursday. The ISU Grand Prix Final features the best six Skaters/Couples in each discipline of the Grand Prix events competing against each other for the first time this season. Thirty-six Skaters/Couples representing nine countries will compete in Beijing.

Jia Shin (KOR) won the Junior Women’s Short Program as the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final continued Thursday in Beijing (CHN). The Final features the top six Skaters/Couples per discipline from the seven events of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. 

Hyungyeom Kim (KOR) skated to the lead in the Junior Men’s Short Program as the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final opened Thursday in Beijing (CHN). The Final features the top six Skaters/Couples per discipline from the seven events of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating series.

The first half of the international speed skating season concludes with the fourth ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland, this weekend. Francesca Lollobrigida (ITA) will make her season debut in the A Division. The 32-year-old Italian celebrated a happy return to the ice in the B Division last weekend, six months after giving birth to her son Tomasso, who joined his mother in Stavanger. Lollobrigida’s Italian teammates Michele Malfatti and Davide Ghiotto (ITA) hope to shine again after their glorious 10,000m exploit in Stavanger last week.

Metoděj Jílek (CZE) continued his winning ways at this season’s second ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating event over the weekend. Having won two golds at the first leg in Baselga di Piné (ITA) last week, the Czech prodigy seized three more in snowy Collalbo (ITA). Meike Veen (NED) dominated the Women’s competition, with gold medals in the 1000m and the 1500m.

A total of 36 young Skaters/Couples from 10 ISU Members earned their spots in the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final and are preparing to compete in Beijing (CHN), December 7-10. The Final features the top six Skaters/Couples per discipline from the seven events of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. China hosts the event for the second time, having first staged it in 2010. Skaters from Japan, the USA and Korea have dominated the ISU Junior circuit this season. Some top Junior competitors return to the Final alongside many newcomers for fans to discover.

Shaolin and Shaoang Liu (CHN) made history skating for Hungary – they have a Chinese father and a Hungarian mother – winning the nation’s first-ever Olympic Winter Games gold medal at PyeongChang 2018, as part of the victorious relay team.

The second round of ISU Junior World Cup Short Track Speed Skating took place at the Elfstedenhal in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, this weekend. Republic of Korea once again asserted its supremacy at this level of skating, winning six of the eight individual golds up for grabs.

Kim Min Sun (KOR) went back to her old boots to rediscover winning ways at the ISU World Cup in Stavanger on Sunday. Last year’s 500m World Cup winner seized her first gold of this season, beating current World Cup leader Erin Jackson (USA) in the sprint. Martina Sáblíková (CZE) took her first World Cup gold in over three years in the 5000m after Irene Schouten (NED) had set a track record time in the B Division, and the USA finished off the Stavanger World Cup with gold in the women’s Team Sprint.

Jordan Stolz (USA) took his first World Cup gold of the season, leaving rankings leader Kjeld Nuis (NED) behind in a battle of the generations. The 19-year-old American may represent the younger athletes versus 34-year-old Nuis, yet he is already an established skater. The Norwegian men concluded the men’s competition in Stavanger winning gold in the Team Sprint. 

Davide Ghiotto and Michele Malfatti (both ITA) jumped for joy after they won gold and bronze in the men’s 10,000m at the ISU World Cup in Stavanger on Saturday. Ghiotto took a firm lead in the long-distance World Cup ranking, while his team-mate celebrated a career first individual World Cup podium.