In the end it took two long-distance world records for the Czech Republic’s endurance specialist Martina Sáblíková to see off the considerable challenge posed by reigning champion Miho Takagi of Japan and claim her fifth world title. In a classic battle between speed and stamina, the latter won in the ladies' World Allround Championships at the 1988 Olympic Oval in Calgary, Canada. But it did not come easy. Away from the intriguing battle for gold and silver, Antoinette de Jong took home the bronze medal for the Netherlands.
Miho Takagi (JPN) was paired with six-time World Allround gold medallist and 2018 runner-up Ireen Wüst (NED) in 500m. With a personal best of 37.22 the Japanese left her Dutch opponent 1.24 seconds adrift at the finish line. Wüst took second place overall, just 0.06 ahead of another strong competitor, Antoinette de Jong of the Netherlands.
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Miho Takagi (JPN) at the ISU World Allround Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
The Czech long-distance specialist Martina Sáblíková (CZE) had skated 39.32 to come 13th in the 500m, but in the 3000m she served notice of the threat she poses. With 3.53.31 she was 0.03 seconds faster than previous record-holder Cindy Klassen (CAN) had been on the same track 13 years ago. De Jong finished second in the 3000m, clocking 3:58.25, narrowly ahead of Isabelle Weidemann (CAN), who took third place.
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Martina Sáblíková (CZE) at the ISU World Allround Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
Miho Takagi (JPN) won the 1500m. Ireen Wüst (NED) and Ivanie Blondin (CAN) came second and third respectively.
Having beaten Cindy Klassen's (CAN) 3000m world record on Saturday, Sáblíková pressed her way to another world-best time, finishing the 5000m in 6:42.01, trimming her own previous world record of 6:42.66. Isabelle Weidemann (CAN) took second place in the 5000m in 6:49.68 while Carlijn Achtereekte (NED) came third in 6:50.12.
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Isabelle Weidemann (CAN) at the ISU World Allround Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
Takagi finished in 7:02.72 for eighth place in the distance and her second silver world championship-medal in eight days. Antoinette de Jong finished the 5000m in 6:56.26 to hold on to third place in the overall classification.
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Antoinette de Jong (NED) at the ISU World Allround Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
In the men's competition, Patrick Roest (NED) successfully defended his World Allround title, setting a points world record on his way to golden glory in Calgary, Canada, on Sunday. The Dutchman’s total of 145.561 points broke the 2006 mark of 145.742 by Shani Davis of the USA. Norway’s Sverre Lunde Pedersen put up a good fight, but eventually had to settle for silver, while nine-time champion Sven Kramer (NED) took the third World Allround bronze medal of his distinguished career.
Canada's Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu won the men's opening distance in 35.53, with Patrick Roest (NED) coming second in 35.74 and Lunde Pedersen (NOR) third in 35.85.
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Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu (CAN) at the ISU World Allround Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
Roest (NED) outskated his team-mate Sven Kramer (NED) in the 5000m to finish first. Pedersen (NOR) was third.
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Patrick Roest (NED) at the ISU World Allround Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
Pedersen and Roest took first and second place in 1:43.11 and 1:43.31 in the 1500m distance, while Kramer came third in 1:43.87 to hold on to bronze-medal position in the overall ranking too.
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Sverre Lunde Pedersen (NOR) at the ISU World Allround Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
Home favorite and Olympic Champion Ted-Jan Bloemen (12:53.15) came second in the final distance, behind Roest and three seconds ahead of Pedersen. The Canadian ended up fifth in the final ranking, while Kramer took bronze overall.
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Ted-Jan Bloemen (CAN) at the ISU World Allround Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
