ISU

Miho Takagi (JPN) took full advantage of Jutta Leerdam’s (NED) absence in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland, crushing the field in the 1000m on Sunday to overtake the Dutch leader in the World Cup standings. Brittany Bowe (USA) celebrated a long-awaited comeback on the podium, coming in second ahead of teammate Kimi Goetz. Wrapping up the weekend in the Mass Start, Irene Schouten (NED) edged out Ivanie Blondin (CAN) and Mia Kilburg-Manganello (USA) in a tight bunch sprint.

Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) seized his first World Cup gold of the season in the second 500m heat of the weekend at Tomaszów Mazowiecki on Sunday. The last two seasons’ World Cup winner edged out Saturday gold medalist and Olympic Champion Gao Tingyu (CHN) by 0.06s. Damian Zurek (POL) took bronze in front of an ecstatic home crowd. In the long distances Patrick Roest (NED) made amends for coming eighth in the 10,000m last week in Stavanger. 

A third men’s sprint crown in a row and another relay win in Beijing capped a golden finale for Canada at the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating event on Sunday. But it was not all about the North Americans with the Capital Indoor Stadium crowd – again a 10,000-plus sell-out – finally getting what they really wanted with Liu Shaoang taking the 1000m title for China. 

Peder Kongshaug (NOR) surprised everyone but himself when he beat Jordan Stolz (USA) in the 1500m to win his career first individual World Cup gold at the Arena Lodowa on Saturday. The 22-year-old Norwegian added a Team Pursuit bronze alongside teammates Sverre Lunde Pedersen and Hallgeir Engebråten. In the 500m Gao Tingyu (CHN) ended the four-race winning streak of Wataru Morishige (JPN), the Japanese ace coming third in Tomaszów Mazowiecki.

Miho Takagi (JPN) left Tomaszów Mazowiecki’s Arena Lodowa on Saturday with two gold medals around her neck, but she was still not entirely happy. The Japanese star had set out to claim the 1500m track record and despite winning the distance with a 1.07-second-margin, fell 0.63s short of her own 2021 mark. Later on an action-packed Saturday afternoon, she added what she called a “lucky” Team Pursuit gold after the Netherlands were disqualified. In the meantime Erin Jackson (USA) bounced back from Friday’s fourth place in the 500m to win the distance at the second time of asking.   

“Quad God” Ilia Malinin struck gold as competition wrapped up at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Beijing (CHN) Saturday. 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. 

On a day in which the home team won five ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating medals in front of Beijing’s noisy, packed-out Capital Indoor Stadium, Kristen Santos-Griswold (USA) still managed to steal the headlines.

The second coming of Short Track star Kim Gun Woo (KOR) continued at pace on the opening day of the ISU World Cup in Beijing with the Korean flying to yet another victory before delivering an ominous message. 

Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) claimed the Women’s Grand Prix Final crown as the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final continued Saturday in Beijing (CHN). 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. 

Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava (GEO) once again ruled in the Junior Pairs competition as the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final continued Saturday 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. 

Rio Nakata (JPN) shoots to the top as the Junior Men’s event wrapped up at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final Saturday 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.

Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) danced off with their first ISU Grand Prix Final gold as the Ice Dance event concluded at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final Saturday in Beijing (CHN). The Final features the top six Skaters/Couples per discipline from the seven events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series competing against each other for the first time this season.

Leah Neset/Artem Markelov (USA) celebrated a confident victory as the Junior Ice Dance event concluded at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final Saturday 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. 

Jordan Stolz (USA) gave another masterclass in speed skating at the ISU World Cup in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland. After World Cup leader Kjeld Nuis (NED) called in sick, the reigning World Champion won the 1000m by a 1.09s margin over silver medalist Ryouta Kojima (JPN) on Friday. To conclude competition on the opening day in Poland, Andrea Giovannini (ITA) won the Mass Start, overtaking Bart Swings (BEL) in the World Cup rankings.

Kim Min Sun (KOR) took her second consecutive 500m win of the season to kick off the ISU World Cup in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland, on Friday. The 24-year-old Korean closed in on World Cup leader Erin Jackson (USA), who finished fourth. Femke Kok (NED) took silver and Andzelika Wójcik (POL) celebrated bronze in front of a happy home crowd. In the long distances, Ragne Wiklund (NOR) got back in the saddle with her third 3000m gold of the season after a difficult 5000m race in Stavanger last week.