ISU

The International Skating Union (ISU) is proud to welcome as an Official Partner of the World Ice Skating Day (WISD) the UK-based ice leisure company Planet Ice, the largest chain of ice rinks in Europe. The ISU and Planet Ice share a common commitment to create initiatives and experiences aiming at expanding Ice Skating sports to the large public. In this spirit, Planet Ice will open up its 14 rinks and offer a range of free activities all over the country to celebrate the first-ever World Ice Skating Day on December 4th 2022.

It was cold and windy at the Jääurheilukeskus outdoor Speed Skating track in Finland, but the future stars of Speed Skating defied the tough conditions at the first of three Junior World Cup events of this season. Jade Groenewoud (NED), Alina Dauranova (KAZ) and Issa Gunji (JPN) were the most decorated Skaters with two gold medals each in the Junior category, while Anna Ostlender (GER), Kasper Tveter (NOR) and Nil Llop Izquierdo (ESP) seized two victories each in the Neo-Senior category.

Since the introduction of the Junior World Cup in the 2008/2009 speed skating season, many future stars had a first taste of international competition in this series. Joep Wennemars (NED) is a perfect example. The Dutch youngster dominated the series last season and already took his first medals this season in Heerenveen. The Junior World Cup starts with two legs in Seinäjoki, Finland, on 27-27 November and 3-4 December, and concludes with a final event on 4-5 February 2023 in Inzell, Germany.

For the launch of the first-ever World Ice Skating Day (WISD) on December 4th 2022, the International Skating Union (ISU) is proud to count among its partners the charity organization Inclusive Skating, dedicated to providing skaters with any form of disability or impairment an equitable participation in ice skating sports. This collaboration naturally came to life, as Inclusive Skating’s mission perfectly aligns with the World Ice Skating Day initiative: a global annual festival opening up the world of Ice Skating to everyone regardless of any social, economic, cultural or physical considerations.  

The ISU is delighted to launch our Recast Channel, joining a rapidly growing list of rights holders on the pioneering Over-The-Top (OTT) sports platform, enabling fans to watch content.

On December 4, the ISU will be celebrating Ice Skating sports all around the world by launching the first edition of the World Ice Skating Day. To date, more than 30 countries on all continents will take part in this initiative and will organize a variety of events hand in hand with local skating clubs, rinks and national skating federations. Lausanne (SUI), the Olympic Capital and home of international sports organizations, will join this Ice Skating festival by hosting a special event at the Vaudoise Aréna rink with Alexia Paganini (SUI) – the Swiss national Figure Skating champion – as guest-star.

Irene Schouten(NED) bounced back with a track record in Heerenveen, after a surprise loss in the 3000m in Stavanger (NOR) last week. “You learn from your mistakes and thanks to last week’s mistakes, I skated a track record today,” she said. Earlier on Sunday, Min Sun Kim (KOR) took back-to-back gold in the 500m, edging out Vanessa Herzog (AUT) and Jutta Leerdam (NED) on the final day of the ISU World Cup in Thialf.

Pacing is the name of the game in the 1500m and Connor Howe (CAN) executed it to perfection in Thialf on Sunday. The 22-year-old Canadian took his first World Cup victory in 1 minute and 43.38s, beating Olympic champion Kjeld Nuis (NED) by 0.26s. In the final event of this season’s second ISU World Cup, Ning Zhongyan took China by the hand to edge out the Netherlands by 0.27s for gold in the Team Sprint.

The Dutch women gave the home crowd something to cheer for at Thialf stadium on Saturday. Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong (NED) surprised Miho Takagi (JPN) in the 1500m, while Marrit Fledderus, Michelle de Jong and Femke Kok (NED) left Canada and the United States behind in the Team Sprint to conclude the second day of the ISU World Cup in Heerenveen. 

Challenged by three Norwegian youngsters, Patrick Roest (NED) dug deep and found his best self in the 5000m at the ISU World Cup in Heerenveen on Saturday. The Olympic silver medalist shaved almost a second off his own 2021 track record, finishing in 6 minutes and 4.36s. Sander Eitrem and Hallgeir Engebråten (NOR) came second and third, while their compatriot Sigurd Henriksen set a new junior world record in 6:17.67. Earlier on Saturday, Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) took revenge for a failed 1000m on Friday, winning the 500m in a convincing time of 34.34s.   

A new generation is shaking up international men’s speed skating. Last week’s sensation Jordan Stolz (USA) crashed in the 1000m on the first day of the second ISU World Cup in Heerenveen. But with silver medalist Joep Wennemars (NED) and bronze medalist Marten Liiv (EST) there were two new faces on the World Cup podium behind golden Ning Zhongyan (CHN) in the 1000m. In the Mass Start, Dutch youngster Bart Hoolwerf took his career second World Cup win. 

A crash in training and a bent skate could not stop Jutta Leerdam (NED) taking 1000m gold at the second ISU World Cup leg in Heerenveen on Friday. The Dutch Olympic silver medalist beat Beijing 2022 champion Miho Takagi (JPN) for the second week in a row. In the Mass Start Irene Schouten (NED) bounced back after last week’s bronze with gold after an impressive solo escape. 

It is with deep sorrow and regret that the International Skating Union (ISU) learned of the death of the President of the Figure Skating Federation of Russia and ISU Honorary Member Alexander Georgievitch Gorshkov who passed away on November 17, aged 76.

The second World Cup in Heerenveen (NED) will feature the comeback of Kjeld Nuis (NED), who got a wildcard after missing out on qualification due to injury at the Dutch trials in October. The Olympic 1500m Champion will face an interesting battle with Jordan Stolz (USA). In Nuis’ absence, the 18-year-old Wisconsin prodigy dominated the Men’s 1000m and 1500m at the first World Cup in Stavanger (NOR) last week. But past results don’t guarantee future performance, as Olympic Champions Miho Takagi (JPN) and Irene Schouten (NED) found out in Norway. They’ll hope to bounce back at the Thialf Stadium in Heerenveen.

After winning the 1500m in a track record on Friday, Jordan Stolz (USA) struck again in the 1000m on Sunday. Although still a junior, the 18-year-old Wisconsin prodigy left Olympic silver medalist Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) almost half a second behind in second place.