ISU

Tennis has the holy grass of Wimbledon, Judo has the Budokan in Tokyo and Speed Skating has Thialf in Heerenveen (NED). The stadium is famous for the large crowds, cheering for every single rider at big championships, but it’s also one of the most high-tech Speed Skating facilities around the world. 

The International Skating Union (ISU) has published the International Speed Skating and Short Track Speed Skating Competitions for the season 2022/22.

Mass Start Olympic Champion Bart Swings (BEL) has claimed five medals in Roller Speed Skating at the World Games 2022 in Birmingham (USA), four of them gold. He also became the first athlete to win a gold medal at the World Games and the Olympic Winter Games in the same year.

It is with deep sorrow and regret that the International Skating Union (ISU) learned of the death of ISU Honorary President, Mr. Ottavio Cinquanta who passed away on July 18 aged 83.

Today (July 12, 2022), the German Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) published a decision upholding the constitutional complaint of Ms. Claudia Pechstein challenging two decisions of the Federal Court of Justice which had been issued in 2016.

Whereas Inline Skating and Ice-Skating used to be separate worlds in the past, both disciplines have become more and more intertwined overtime. The ISU Development offers a successful Transition Program for athletes to switch from tarmac to ice.

“I did not want to mess up someone else’s Olympic performance,” said Kai Verbij (NED) after sacrificing his medal chances in the Men’s 1000m Speed Skating Final at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games by giving priority to opponent Laurent Dubreuil (CAN), who won silver. Verbij left Beijing empty-handed, but got a consolation reward four months later. The Dutchman was granted by a public’s vote the 2022 VISA Award for his ‘classy move’, as Dubreuil labeled it. Launched in 2021, the Visa Award gives fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite Olympic and Paralympics moments with a special focus on friendship, inclusion and acceptance.

On the last and decisive day of the 58th ISU Congress, the assembly elected with a total of 77 votes Mr. Jae Youl Kim (KOR), who becomes the 12th President and the first from outside Europe to take the helm of the International Skating Union. He succeeds Mr. Jan Dijkema (NED), who has been leading the federation over the past six years.

The 58th Ordinary ISU Congress continued on June 9, 2022 with the split Sessions for the Figure Skating and Speed Skating Branches.

The 58th Ordinary ISU Congress continued on June 8, 2022 with the split Sessions for the Figure Skating and Speed Skating Branches. During the sessions, Delegates can only vote on the Special Rules and Technical Regulations, with a two-thirds majority required.

The ISU Congress voted in favor of the ISU Council Proposal 22 to gradually increase the age limit for Senior Skaters from 15 to 17 years for the sake of protecting the physical and mental health, and emotional well-being of the Skaters. There will be no change for the season 2022/23. An increase to 16 years for the season 2023/24 and an increase to 17 years for the season 2024/25 and subsequent seasons will then be implemented.

After nearly three decades of dedication and significant contributions to ice skating world, Jan Dijkema – ISU President from 2016 up to this day – is handing over his presidential seat on June 10, 2022 during the ISU 58th Ordinary Congress (June 6-10, Phuket, Thailand).

Attended by over 250 Delegates, the 58th Ordinary ISU Congress opened on June 6, 2022 with a welcome message by the ISU President Mr. Jan Dijkema and a minute’s silence was held in memory of great friends of the ISU and the Skating family who are no longer with us.

Every skater has ups and downs, in a competition, in a season and in a career. Today we celebrate five skaters who fought their demons to get #UpAgain during the last Olympic season.

The ISU Council recently approved the World Cup Speed Skating venues and dates for the season 2022/23 as follows.