ISU

Miho Takagi (JPN) is the surprise leader in the Ladies’ classification after Day 1 of the ISU World Allround Speed Skating Championships in Hamar Norway. In the Men’s tournament Sven Kramer (NLD) laid a solid foundation for his ninth World Allround title, leading the classification ahead of countrymen Patrick Roest and Jan Blokhuijsen after the first two distances.

The ISU spoke with Hege Bøkko & Håvard Holmefjord Lorentzen from Norway to find out more about them and their sporting career.

Dutch record champion Sven Kramer is the outright favorite to win his career ninth World Allround Speed Skating title in Hamar this weekend. In the ladies’ tournament Ireen Wüst (NED) will again challenge Martina Sáblíková (CZE), who will aim for a third consecutive title.

Nao Kodaira became the first Japanese lady to win the ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships in Calgary on Sunday. Kai Verbij (NED) survived a nerve wrecking miss stroke in the final 1000m to grab his first career World Sprint Title. Both Kodaira and Verbij skated a World Record in the sprint combination.

The Olympic Oval in Calgary confirmed its status as one of the fastest ice rinks in the World with 59 personal best times and 20 national records on Day 1 of the ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships. Nao Kodaira is on course for her career first World Sprint Title, and the Men’s tournament is very close, with Kai Verbij (NED) defending a 0.11 lead over Germany’s Nico Ihle.

The 48th ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships will be held on the fast ice of the Calgary Olympic Oval in Canada, which will host these Championships for the fifth time in history. Only Heerenveen (NED) hosted the tournament more often (six times).

Dutch skaters Chris Huizinga and Jutta Leerdam grabbed the Men’s and Ladies’ Allround gold at the ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships on February 17-19, 2017. Norway’s Allan Dahl Johansson and Russia’s Daria Kachanova both grabbed two single distance titles at the artificial outdoor rink of Oulunkylä Sport Park in Helsinki.

USA’s Nathan Chen skated to victory in the Men’s event. Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan moved up from third to claim the silver and Shoma Uno, also of Japan, earned the bronze.

Wenjing Sui/Cong Han of China skated off with the Pairs gold. Canadians Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford and Liubov Ilyushechkina/Dylan Moscovitch picked up the silver and bronze medals.

Mai Mihara of Japan came from fourth place to strike gold in what was her debut at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. Gabrielle Daleman of Canada earned the silver medal and Mirai Nagasu (USA) pulled up from fifth to claim the bronze.

Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir of Canada danced off with the gold medal, taking home their third Four Continents title. USA’s Maia Shibutani/ Alex Shibutani earned the silver medal and their teammates Madison Chock/Evan Bates claimed the bronze.

Nathan Chen (USA) won the Men’s Short Program. Japan’s Shoma Uno and Yuzuru Hanyu finished second and third.

Helsinki will host the World’s fastest junior speed skaters for the annual ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships on February 17-19. The Juniors have to prepare for tough conditions, because the event will be held at the artificial outdoor rink of Oulunkylä Sport Park.

Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir of Canada danced to the lead in the Short Dance. USA’s Maia Shibutani/ Alex Shibutani and Madison Chock/Evan Bates follow in second and third.

China’s Wenjing Sui/Cong Han and Xiaoyu Yu/Hao Zhang finished first and second in the Pairs Short Program. Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford of Canada are currently ranked third.