ISU

On December 16, 2022, the ISU World Cup Speed Skating continues with the second of two back-to-back events in Calgary (CAN). The fourth of six World Cup events is the only one featuring the Women’s 5000m and the Men’s 10,000m. After winning two of the three 3000m races so far, Ragne Wiklund (NOR) leads the Women’s long distance ranking, but will she be able to hold off Olympic Champion Irene Schouten (NED) in the 5000m too?

The International Skating Union (ISU) is delighted to unveil the long-awaited list of candidates that are vying for a coveted ISU Skating Awards trophy. The winners will be announced on February 5, 2023 in Zurich (SUI). While the ISU Skating Awards Selection Commission has identified a total of 69 candidates across six categories, the public and media will be able as from December 15th, 2022 to vote for their favorite Skaters, Coach and Choreographer on the ISU Skating Awards online voting platform. Votes can be submitted until December 31, 2022 which will contribute to determining the three nominees in each category - who will officially be announced in January 2023. A new category named “Special Achievement Award” has been introduced for the 2023 edition and will feature one nominee elected by the Commission.

The festive season approaches and we come to the end of another great skating year. The ISU President, Jae Youl Kim, has a video message for all skating friends.

Andrea Giovannini (ITA) took the lead in the Mass Start ranking with his first World Cup triumph in the event since 2019, winning a spectacular race ahead of Peter Michael (NZL) and Vitaliy Chshigolev (KAZ). In the 1000m, Hein Otterspeer (NED) edged out Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) by 0.02s to win his career fifth World Cup gold.

Jutta Leerdam (NED) continued her perfect streak in the 1000m, seizing her third consecutive gold medal at the third leg of the ISU World Cup series on Sunday, while Irene Schouten (NED) won the Mass Start with a powerful sprint to conclude the women’s competition at the first of two consecutive weekends in Calgary, Canada.

Denis Nikisha (KAZ) gave the home crowd in the Halyk Arena what they craved, the 27-year-old securing 500m silver on the final day of the third ISU World Cup Short Track session of the season in Almaty.

It was a memorable Sunday for Hanne Desmet (BEL), who captured the first Senior gold medal of her career, winning an exciting 1500m (2) final at Almaty’s Halyk Arena to cap the final day of this season’s third World Cup meet in style.

Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) believes his skating is “close to perfection” after winning another gold medal in the 500m in Calgary to underline his career-best start to a World Cup season. Patrick Roest (NED) failed in his quest to break the legendary 15-year-old 5000m track record, but still took gold by almost a four-second margin.

Miho Takagi (JPN) was back on top in the 1500m at the third event of the ISU World Cup series on Saturday, the world record holder posting a time of 1 minute and 52.54s at the Calgary Olympic Oval. Her Japanese team-mates Ayano Sato, Momoka Horikawa and Sumire Kikuchi claimed silver behind Olympic champions Canada.

Japan’s Mai Mihara came out on top in what was a turbulent Women’s Free Skating with a lot of movement in the standings. Isabeau Levito (USA) rose from fifth to capture the silver medal and Loena Hendrickx of Belgium picked up the bronze, while reigning ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) faltered.

Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier of Canada danced off with their first medal in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Torino on Saturday – and it was gold. Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) collected silver ahead of Italy’s Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri.

ISU World Junior bronze medalists Nadiia Bashynska/Peter Beaumont won gold and a first ISU Junior Grand Prix Final title in Ice Dance for Canada since Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir in the 2005/06 season.

Nikolaj Memola came from second place to strike gold on home ice – and it was the first Junior Grand Prix Final title for Italy since Federica Faiella/Luciano Milo won the Ice Dance in the inaugural Junior Grand Prix Final back March 1998. Short Program leader Lucas Broussard (USA) was edged into silver.

Hong Kyung Hwan (KOR) celebrated his mother’s birthday in style with a convincing win in the 1500m (1), keeping his promise of handing her a gold medal when he next sees her. 

Favorites Anastasia Golubeva/Hektor Giotopoulos Moore came from second place to win the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final Pairs title, the second in Australia’s history. Short Program leaders Sophia Baram/Daniel Tioumentsev (USA) took silver, bronze went to Cayla Smith/Andy Deng (USA).