Issa Gunji (JPN) led Japan’s impressive medal haul at the first ISU World Cup Speed Skatingin Baselga di Piné, Italy, winning both the men’s 500m and 1000m. Metoděj Jílek (CZE) also seized two individual gold medals in the men’s competition, while Hana Noake (JPN) dominated the women’s field winning gold, silver and bronze at the outdoor rink in northern Italy.
Issa Gunji led Japan's dominance at the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating in Baselga di Piné, Italy © ISU
Gunji leads the way for Japan
Japan won a total of three gold medals, two silvers and four bronze to top the medal table. The Netherlands, who ended last season on top, finished second in Italy with two golds, two silvers and two bronze.
Gunji started the event at the cold and windy Baselga track winning the men’s 1000m in 1:10.74, beating Kyungmin Koo (KOR) by 0.48, with Bin Liu (CHN) in third. On Sunday, the Japanese youngster added his second gold in the 500m. With a time of 35.74, he left teammate Fuga Tsujimoto 0.34 behind. With their 500m 1-2 the Japanese juniors followed the footsteps of their senior countrymen, who are also currently dominating the shortest distance in the senior World Cup.
Issa Gunji won both the 500m and 1000m at the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating in Baselga di Piné, Italy © ISU
Jilek reigns in endurance events
Metoděj Jílek was the endurance king in Baselga. The Czech skater won the 3000m on Saturday in 3:51.49, coming home ahead of Didrik Eng Strand (NOR) and Freek Van Der Ham (NED), before adding the Mass Start title on Sunday.
Metoděj Jílek triumphed in both the 3000m and Mass Start at the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating in Baselga di Piné, Italy © ISU
Finn Sonnekalb (GER) also took home two gold medals. The German set a personal best of 1:50.10 in the 1500m, finishing 1.12 ahead of China’s Wenhao Li. His individual triumph came after he won the Team Pursuit with teammates Tobias Schlörb and Tomy Nguyen as well as bronze in the 500m.
Finn Sonnekalb set a personal best on his way to 1500m gold at the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating in Baselga di Piné, Italy © ISU
Versatile Noake takes complete medal set
In the women’s competition, Hana Noake (JPN) won the 500m in a personal best of 39.62, just 0.06 ahead of Jillian Knook (NED) with Hanna Mazur (POL) in third. Noake then proved her versatility by also taking silver in the 3000m and bronze in the 1500m.
Hana Noake won a complete medal set at the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating in Baselga di Piné, Italy © ISU
In the Team Pursuit, Noake and her teammates had to settle for fourth, with the Dutch trio of Meike Veen, Rosalie van Vliet and Patricia Koot seizing the gold.
Veen also won the individual 1500m in 2:03.36, ahead of Jeannine Rosner (AUT) and Noake.
Meike Veen celebrates 1500m gold at the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating in Baselga di Piné, Italy © ISU
Seoyeon Cho (KOR) concluded the women’s action in Baselga on Sunday with gold in the Mass Start, edging out Shaohan Zhang (CHN) and Aurora Grinden Løvås (NOR) in the final sprint.
Seoyeon Cho triumphed in the Mass Start at the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating in Baselga di Piné, Italy © ISU
Italy dominates neo-seniors
With a total of four gold and two silvers, home nation Italy dominated the neo-senior category, which is part of the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating competitions to give a chance to skaters who have not yet reached World Cup level in the senior ranks to develop further internationally.
Laura Peveri (ITA) led the Italian medal haul with gold medals in the 1500m and the 3000m, and a silver in the Mass Start.
ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating Series events 2023/24:
Nov 25 - 26, 2023 Baselga di Piné (ITA)
Dec 02 - 03, 2023 Collalbo (ITA)
Feb 03 - 04, 2024 Hachinohe City (JPN)
About ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating Series
The ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating is a series of Junior Speed Skating events, which takes place annually since 2008. The series comprises three events including the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating Final. Skaters can earn points at each competition, and the Skater with the most points on a given distance at the end of the series is the Junior World Cup winner of that distance.
A number of Junior World Cup titles are awarded every season in the Men and Women category; 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 3000 m, Mass Start over 10 laps, Team Pursuit over 6 laps for Women and 8 laps for Men, and Team Sprint over 3 laps, Mixed Gender Relay (6 laps).
Participation in the Juniors division is open to Juniors A and B, born in the period 1 July 2004 – 30 June 2008.
The ISU Neo Senior World Cup is part of the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating competitions and skaters compete in the same events. It gives a chance to skaters who have not yet reached World Cup level in the senior ranks to develop further internationally.
Participation in the Neo-Seniors division is open to skaters born in the period 1 July 2000 – 30 June 2004.
(For full explanation of this season’s ISU Junior and Neo Senior World Cup (entry rules, formats, qualifying rules and quotas, and prizes: https://www.isu.org/speed-skating/rules/ssk-communications/31422-isu-communication-2572/file)
Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games slots
The first two ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating competitions and last season’s ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships in Inzell (GER) are qualifying events for the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games. A total of 34 slots per gender are at stake, with the host nation awarded with two of the 36 slots in total. Each nation can earn a maximum number of two slots per gender, and one team slot for the Mixed Gender Relay.
For all information about the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating Series, please visit the webpage here.
Note that the events will not be available as a live stream on the Skating ISU YouTube channel.
To access Documents and Standings from the previous seasons, please visit our archives page
