Ragne Wiklund (NOR) is all smiles after winning the 3000m, her first World Cup gold, on home ice. @ ISU
Ragne Wiklund (NOR) did the home crowd proud at the start of the World Cup season in Stavanger on Friday. The Norwegian youngster surprisingly beat Irene Schouten (NED) in the 3000m, the Olympic champion having to settle for silver. Another Olympic champion did not even make it to the podium. Erin Jackson (USA) finished eighth women’s 500m, with Korea’s Min Sun Kim time of 37.55 leaving the rest of the field more than half a second behind.
First World Cup gold for Kim
Jackson (USA) took on Jutta Leerdam (NED) in the second last pairing and the Dutchwoman surprisingly got off to a faster start.
“I thought: she’s the Olympic champion, so I have to set a good opener”, Leerdam said.
Although Jackson managed to pip Leerdam to the 100m line for a faster opener in 10.58 versus 10.60, Leerdam went on the win the pair with a strong full lap, stopping the clock at 38.06. Jackson finished in 38.30.
In the next race Kim exploded with a 10.46 opener and an immaculate 27.0 full lap to be the one to finish under 38. The Four Continents Champion Olympic thus took her career first World Cup win. Olympic silver medalist Miho Takagi (JPN) seized bronze with 38.17s in the final pairing.
Min Sun Kim (KOR, centre) was another first-time World Cup winner, in the 500m. @ ISU
Leerdam, who is more of a 1000m specialist, was happy with her 500m race. “It’s my first World Cup podium in the 500m. It’s even only my third ever World Cup podium, which is kind of embarrassing because I do have major titles but the World Cups just never seem to world out well for me.
“This time, I really focused to do well in the World Cups. I tried to work up my nerves and go for it.”
Wiklund brings it home
Wiklund, also had more major titles than World Cups wins before the start of this season. Like Kim in the 500m, 2021 World 1500m Champion took her career first World Cup win in the 3000m.
The Norwegian, who won the 1500m, the 3000m and the 5000m at Norwegian National Championships in Hamar in two weeks ago, was paired with Olympic bronze medalist Isabelle Weidemann and left her Canadian opponent behind from the start.
“The conditions were quite the same as we had on the nationals”, she said. “So I was thinking to do the same lap times, and then hopefully stay a bit better and I did so.”
Almost every lap, she increased her lead and every lap the Norwegian crowd was louder when a new lap time showed up on the scoreboard. Finishing in 4 minutes, 3.12s, Wiklund beat Weidemann by more than two seconds, but the 22-year-old Norwegian had not expected her time to hold against Schouten.
Irene Schouten, won 3000m gold at the World Championships in Norway in March, but had to settle for silver this time. @ ISU
The Olympic champion herself also thought she would have been able to beat Wiklund’s mark, saying: “I saw her time and I thought, that’s beatable but I cannot afford any mistakes, and then I did everything wrong. Usually I’m a bit slow in the second lap, so I wanted to make pace. I kept working, but I did not really start skating.
“I just had a very bad race and she [Wiklund] a very good one. Of course, I don’t come her to finish second, but she is a beautiful skater and a good skater, so if I’ve got to lose, then it’s good to lose against her. I hope she’ll be good again next week, and if I’m back to normal it’s going to be a tight race.”
With a time of 4:05.01, Schouten did manage to edge out Weidemann for silver by 0.45s. The Canadian will definitely be in the mix for long-distance medals this season.
The versatile Wiklund will also skate the 1500m and the 1000m this weekend. She doesn’t want to choose. “I’ve got a great progression towards this season, so I hope to continue like this. The 3000m is sort of my comfort zone, but I like the 1000m and the 1500m too. It’s fun to be out of your comfort zone.”
For all information about the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series, please visit the webpage here.
World Cup Standings - Men
World Cup Standings - Women
Where to watch
Viewers will be able to watch the World Cup sessions (local time) via their national broadcaster/channel.
For countries where there are no broadcasters, the ISU will offer a live stream on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. You will find the full list on the Where to watch webpage here.
ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating Series events 2022/23:
Nov 11 - 13, 2022 Stavanger /NOR
Nov 18 - 20, 2022 Heerenveen/ NED
Dec 09 - 11, 2022 Calgary /CAN
Dec 16 - 18, 2022 Calgary /CAN
Feb 10 - 12, 2023 Tomaszów Mazowiecki /POL
Feb 17 - 19, 2023 World Cup Final - Tomaszów Mazowiecki /POL
About ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series
The ISU World Cup Speed Skating is a Series of international Speed Skating competitions which takes place annually.
The Series started in 1985 and usually consists of six or seven events including the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Final. The events take place across North America, Europe and Asia.
Skaters can earn points at each competition, and the skater who has the most points on a given distance at the end of the Series is the World Cup winner of that particular distance.
The results from the World Cup competitions in the first part of the season are the main qualifying method for the ISU Speed Skating Championships and also for the Olympic Winter Games.
A number of World Cup titles are awarded every season, for Men: 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, combined 5000 m / 10000 m, Team Pursuit, Mass Start and Team Sprint. For Women 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, the combined 3000 m / 5000 m, Team Pursuit, Mass Start and Team Sprint. For further information please visit isu.org.
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