The ISU World Cup Short Track circuit is ready to hit the ice in Almaty (KAZ) again for the second installment of an Asian double-header. This fourth World Cup event of the season, taking place December 16-18, 2022, will surely produce more memorable moments.
The Women and Men will contest two 500m races, the 1000m and the 1500m, before combining for the 2000m Mixed Relay, in the Halyk Arena. There will also be a Women’s 3000m Relay and a Men’s 5000m Relay, with all skaters hoping to end 2022 on a high.
Local hero Denis Nikisha (KAZ) will attempt to send the Kazakh crowd wild again, after he secured silver with a stunning effort in the Men’s 500m final last Sunday. Nikisha stated after the race that he hopes his podium finish will help to boost the popularity of the sport in his country.
Denis Nikisha (KAZ) competes in Men's 500m semi-final race during the 2022 ISU World Cup Short Track in Almaty, Kazakhstan.© ISU
The 27-year-old born racer excels in his role as the poster boy of Short Track in Kazakhstan and is clearly full of confidence, having now grabbed two individual World Cup medals already this season.
Add on the form of the ever-improving Abzal Azhgaliyev (KAZ), who became the first Kazakh skater ever to secure World Cup gold in the 2016/2017 season, and it looks likely the home crowd will indeed have a lot to look forward to in the next few days.
Abzal Azhgaliyev (KAZ) skates ahead of Steven Dubois of Canada during the 2022 ISU World Cup Short Track in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.© ISU
Schulting continues to impress
Suzanne Schulting (NED) added another individual World Cup gold to her tally in Almaty and has now claimed four individual top spots already this season – more than any other skater currently on tour.
Suzanne Schulting (NED) celebrates silver medal during the 2022 ISU World Cup Short Track in Almaty, Kazakhstan.© ISU
The three-time Olympic Champion also bagged silver in the Women’s 500m and 3000m Relay to top the overall ISU World Cup classification. That Schulting has been nursing a cold since she arrived in Kazakhstan’s former capital makes her performances all the more impressive.
Meanwhile, rivalling compatriot Xandra Velzeboer (NED) is set to return to the ice after she missed last week’s action due to illness. Velzeboer will look to return to the form which helped her win three gold medals in individual races at the opening World Cup events in North America.
Kim Gilli (KOR) and her legendary teammate Choi Min Jeong (KOR) still have their eyes on the Crystal Globe Trophy as well. The 18-year-old Kim has so far been outstanding in her debut Senior season, taking four individual medals from her first three World Cup events, while four-time overall World Champion Choi always demands close attention.
Minjeong Choi (KOR) and Gilli Kim (KOR) perform during the 2022 ISU World Cup Short Track in Almaty, Kazakhstan.© ISU
Boutin coming in hot
Kim Boutin (CAN) will feel confident heading into the last races of the year. The lightning-fast skater turns 28 on Friday and hopes to celebrate her birthday with gold over the weekend. The 500m world record holder beat a stacked field in her favorite distance last week and will want to reaffirm her rule of the sprint again.
Kim Boutin (CAN) celebrates after winning gold medal in Women's 500m Final A race during the 2022 ISU World Cup Short Track in Almaty, Kazakhstan.© ISU
Her teammate Courtney Sarault (CAN), 22, won her first Senior ISU World Cup gold during the third meet of the season and poses a real threat across the Women’s 1000m and 1500m. Sarault, the 2021 World Championships overall silver medalist, will be keen to demonstrate she is not just the future of Canada’s team, but its present.
Hanne Desmet (BEL) is in jubilant mood, too: the 26-year-old Belgian won the first Senior gold medal of her career on Sunday, claiming the top spot in the Women’s 1500m (2). She will now be expecting more.
Hanne Desmet (BEL) poses with gold medal after medal ceremony of Women's 1500m (2) Final A race during the 2022 ISU World Cup Short Track in Almaty, Kazakhstan. © ISU
Eyes on the Relays
The Relay finals will be well worth the watch. Canada’s Relay teams put on impressive performances in Almaty last weekend, winning a pair of gold medals. The battles between Canada and the Republic of Korea in the Men’s events have been particularly intriguing so far this season.
Jordan Pierre-Gilles (CAN)’s inside pass on the Koreans to secure the top spot for his team in the Men’s 5000m Relay on Sunday was nothing short of spectacular. Pierre-Gilles had also earned his first career World Cup medal in an individual distance by securing bronze in the Men’s 1000m earlier.
Jordan Pierre-Gilles (CAN) celebrates after winning with Team Canada in Men's 5000m Team Relay Final race during the 2022 ISU World Cup Short Track in Almaty, Kazakhstan. © ISU
The Korean Men’s outfit, featuring Hong Kyung Hwan and Park Ji Won, who sit comfortably clear at the top of the Men’s Crystal Globe Trophy classification – Hong leads his compatriot by just two points – will be planning revenge.
Who might also seek glory in Almaty? Anna Seidel (GER), Kristen Santos-Griswold (USA) and Shim Suk Hee (KOR) remain a threat in the Women’s field; in the Men’s, Adil Galiakhmetov (KAZ), Roberts Kruzbergs (LAT) and Stijn Desmet (BEL) could cause an upset.
One thing’s for sure: the starting gun will sound one last time this year, and you won’t want to miss out on the action.
Find out who is in the running for the inaugural Crystal Globe Trophy
Based on the Overall World Cup Classification, the current leaders for the Crystal Globe Trophy are Hong Kyung Hwan (KOR) in the Men’s competition and Suzanne Schulting (NED) in the Women’s field.
Hong is in the lead by the finest of margins, as only two points separate him (470) with rivalling compatriot Park Ji Won (KOR, 468); Jens van ‘T Wout (NED) sits in third with 356 points.
Schulting comfortably tops the standings with 512 points followed by Kim Gilli (KOR, 410) and Choi Minjeong (KOR, 402).
For all information about the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating Series, please visit webpage here.
World Cup Classification - Men
Overall World Cup Classification
World Cup Classification - Women
Overall World Cup Classification
World Cup Classification – Mixed Relay
Where to watch
Viewers will be able to watch the Saturday and Sunday afternoon (local time) World Cup sessions via their national broadcaster/channel.
For countries where there are no broadcasters and for the qualification and repechage races, the ISU will offer a live stream on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. You will find the full list on the Where to watch webpage here.
ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating Series events 2022/23:
Oct 28 - 30, 2022 Montréal /CAN
Nov 04 - 06, 2022 Salt Lake City /USA
Dec 09 - 11, 2022 Almaty /KAZ
Dec 16 - 18, 2022 Almaty /KAZ
Feb 03 - 05, 2023 Dresden /GER
Feb 10 - 12, 2023 Dordrecht /NED
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