Japan took gold and silver in the men's 500m with Tatsuya Shinhama and Yuma Murakami only 0.002 seconds apart at the top of the ranking at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Tomaszów Mazowiecki on Sunday. Canada's Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) came third to win his first individual World Cup medal in two years, and the Netherlands won the men's Team Pursuit, confidently beating silver medalists Japan.
The tension between Mass Start aces Irene Schouten (NED) and Ivanie Blondin (CAN) has eased over the years, but on the ice they're still fierce rivals. After the Canadian beat her Dutch nemesis in the final sprint last week in Minsk, the order was reversed in the second leg of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Tomaszów Mazowiecki on Sunday. In the 1500m Ireen Wüst (NED) retained her first place in the World Cup classification with a second consecutive win and a track record.
It was a long day for Joey Mantia (USA) in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland, on Saturday, but the hard work finally paid off when he crossed the line first to win the men's Mass Start. In the 1500m the American had finished a lowly 16th, with Thomas Krol (NED) taking gold in a track record just 0.19 seconds ahead of team-mate and last week's winner Kjeld Nuis (NED).
Nao Kodaira (JPN) returned to her winning ways in the 500m, but her compatriots in the ladies' Team Pursuit suffered a first loss after three seasons of invincibility at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland, on Saturday. The Russian team took advantage of a weakened Japanese line-up, edging out the Netherlands by 0.12 seconds to take gold.
Two-time Olympic Champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan triumphed on home ice to claim victory with 55 points to spare. France’s Kevin Aymoz skated to the silver medal and Canadian Roman Sadovsky moved up to take the bronze, the first Grand Prix medal of his career. Hanyu and Aymoz qualified for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.
Russia’s Alena Kostornaia stormed to her second Grand Prix gold medal at the NHK Trophy in Sapporo (JPN) on Saturday. Rika Kihira of Japan claimed the silver medal and Olympic Champion Alina Zagitova of Russia moved up one place to take the bronze. All three qualified for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Torino next month.
Olympic silver medalists Wenjing Sui/Cong Han of China skated to a confident victory at NHK Trophy in Sapporo (JPN) with a little over 18 points to spare on Saturday. Canada’s Kirsten Moore-Towers/Michael Marinaro earned the silver medal and the bronze went to Anastasia Mishina/Aleksandr Galliamov of Russia.
Four-time ISU World Ice Dance Champions Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron of France were untouchable at NHK Trophy in Sapporo (JPN) on Saturday and set new high scores on their way to the gold. Russia’s Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin earned the silver medal and, like the French, a ticket to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Torino (ITA) next month.
Patrick Roest (NED) won a second successive 5000m gold in the World Cup and the fourth of his career with a track record on the first day of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Tomaszów Mazowiecki on Friday. In the team sprint the Dutch men switched their line-up but also clinched their second World Cup win of the season.
Martina Sáblíková (CZE) showed great resilience by bouncing back from last week's fourth place to win the 3000m on the opening day of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Tomaszów Mazowiecki on Friday. Carlijn Achtereekte (NED) was a close second and climbed to first place in the long distance World Cup ranking. In the ladies’ Team Sprint, Russia took advantage of a line-up change to beat the Netherlands and reverse last week’s places at the top of the podium.
Double Olympic Champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan topped the Men’s Short Program at the NHK Trophy in Sapporo on Friday and leads France’s Kevin Aymoz by almost 18 points.
Russia’s Alena Kostornaia fought off the challenge of Rika Kihira of Japan in an exciting battle of triple Axels in the Ladies' Short Program at the NHK Trophy in Sapporo on Friday and posted a new highest score for the discipline.
Olympic silver medalists Wenjing Sui/Cong Han of China sparkled in the Pairs Short Program at NHK Trophy in Sapporo on Friday and seem poised for gold with a 10-point lead over Canadians Kirsten Moore-Towers/Michael Marinaro. Russia’s Anastasia Mishina/Aleksandr Galliamov are not far behind the Canadians in third place.
Four-time World Champions Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) danced to a confident lead in the Rhythm Dance at NHK Trophy in Sapporo (JPN) Friday, setting a new highest score en route. Russia’s Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin are currently ranked second followed by Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri of Italy.
International Skating Union (ISU) launches #UpAgain – a global digital campaign with an emotional and inspiring message.