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Angel Daleman (NED) celebrates with the Dutch flag after finishing first in the Speed Skating Women’s Mass Start Final at the Gangneung Oval. @OIS/Bob Martin
Three gold medals at Gangwon 2024: Daleman (NED) and Sonnekalb (GER) complete individual Speed Skating sweeps
Angel Daleman (NED) and Finn Sonnekalb (GER) completed a clean sweep of the Women’s and Men’s individual events, respectively, by clinching victory in the Mass Sprint on the last day of Speed Skating action at the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024.
The 16-year-old Daleman capped off her dominant performances at the competition, as she cruised to another gold medal to end with a personal haul of four medals - having also won bronze with her teammate Sem Spruit (NED) in the Mixed Relay.
Daleman skated a perfect race in the Mass Start final on Friday. She positioned herself at the front of the pack, before comfortably crossing the finish line in first place ahead of compatriot Jasmijn Veenhuis (NED), who got silver. Liu Yunqi (CHN) took the bronze.
“I feel relieved and really happy”, Daleman said after the final. “Also because it (the tournament) is over. It was a hard week. But I’m mainly just very happy with this gold medal.”
“The race was kind of boring [laughs], because all the ten laps I was in front. So it was: 'OK, is someone going to attack or not? I think it was the easiest Mass Start I’ve ever raced.”
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Angel Daleman (NED) and Jasmijn Veenhuis (NED) lead the field in the Speed Skating Women’s Mass Start Final. @OIS/Bob Martin
The Dutch skating prodigy is leaving Gangwon with a clutch of medals around her neck and was "very happy" with her performances.
“I think my favourite moment was when I crossed the finish line after the 500m and was carrying the national flag with me for the first time. I was really waiting for that moment,” Daleman said.
“I have a big closet for all my medals at my parents’ place. I think I’ll keep them all there. The collection is growing.”
Daleman will now shift her attention to the ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships 2024 in Hachinohe, Japan (9 - 11 February). She aims to defend her Allround title, being the youngest-ever World Junior Champion in Speed Skating following her historic triumph in Germany last year.
“I’m flying to Japan tomorrow morning, but first I’m going to rest a lot because it was a heavy week. I’m probably going to eat some McDonald's at the airport [laughs].”
“When I think about the Worlds, I feel so nervous already. But I’ve been great this entire week, so that gives me a lot of confidence as well.”
Sonnekalb grabs headlines again
In the Men’s field, Finn Sonnekalb (GER) joined Daleman as a triple gold medalist with the German skater topping the podium in all of the individual distances at Gangwon 2024 too.
Sonnekalb came into the competition showing great form, having recorded personal bests in the Men’s 500m and 1500m events at the first two meets of this season’s ISU Junior World Cup campaign in Italy.
And showing no signs of being overwhelmed by competing on the Olympic stage, the 16-year-old racer went on to claim titles in the Men’s 500m, 1500m and Mass Start, translating his steady progress into top performances at the Youth Olympic Games.
In the Men's Mass Start final, Sonnekalb fended off a pair of challenges from Pan Baoshuo (CHN) and Eirik Andersen (NOR) in a sprint to the finish line, as Pan claimed silver and Andersen bagged bronze.
“I feel incredible. Everyone here hopes they can win one medal, but I won three. It’s amazing,” Sonnekalb said.
“The final was very hard. I needed to go full gas on the last 100 metres. It hurts in the legs, but it’s all worth it.”
“It’s a big accomplishment. I hope that this is the start of a long career for me. I know this is just the beginning. I want to be at the Olympic Games (Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics) and then I’ll see want I can do.”
Full results of the Speed Skating competition at Gangwon 2024 can be found here.
You can watch the live stream of the competitions here.
