Jordan Stolz added the 1500m title on Sunday to his wins in the 500m and 1000m races at the ISU World Single Distances Championships @ISU
As if it were another day at the office, Jordan Stolz (USA) ticked the last box of his second consecutive triple crown at the ISU World Single Distances Championships in Calgary on Sunday. The 19-year-old American defended his 1500m title after already having retained his 500m and 1000m titles. Earlier on Sunday, Davide Ghiotto (ITA) won his second consecutive 10,000m title, leaving home favorite Ted-Jan Bloemen (CAN) 8.19 seconds behind after 25 laps.
Twice is ‘more impressive’
When he won the 500m, 1000m and 1500m last year, Stolz became the first man to win three individual titles at the same World Single Distances Championships. At 18, he also became the youngest speed skater to win gold in the history of the event. By crossing the 1500m finish line on Sunday in 1:41.44 — just .11 seconds off the track record set by Denis Yuskov (RUS) in 2017 — Stolz repeated last year’s results in a seemingly more dominant fashion.
Was there a different feeling this time around?
“The feeling last year was a bit more surreal, because it was the first medals in the World Championships ever, but this is also kind of crazy, that I did it again. I feel like winning twice is way more impressive. The chances of doubling again are pretty low, but I was able to manage.”
Kjeld Nuis (NED) ended up second in 1:42.66, equaling last year’s result, while 2024 European champion Peder Kongshaug (NOR) went home with bronze.
Kjeld Nuis secured his second-straight silver medal Sunday in the 1500m event at the ISU World Single Distances Championships @ISU
Both the Dutch veteran and the Norwegian youngster didn’t feel they had a chance against Stolz in Calgary, but the two are convinced they will be able to bridge the gap next season. Stolz also knows he shouldn’t take winning for granted.
“I think they can get close, so I just keep training as hard as I can. You never know how they could jump up right next to me.”
After his triple crown in Calgary, Stolz has set his sights on the World Allround title next month in Inzell, Germany. He’s also contemplating entering the World Sprint Championships, but combining the two will not be easy because the World Sprints are held just before the Allrounds. If he has to choose, Stolz will take the Allrounds.
“I feel that’s the more prestigious one.”
Nuis, the Olympic champion, said his silver medal has a golden edge.
“This was the best result possible today. Whatever I would have done today, (Stolz’s) time would not have been feasible for me today.”
Nuis just recovered from a tough crash at the World Cup races in Salt Lake City three weeks ago. Leaving Calgary with a silver and bronze, in the 1000m, was more than he expected.
“If you would have told me this two weeks ago, I would have signed for it.”
How does he think he can bridge the gap with Stolz?
“How not? No problem. I suffered from the flu before the Dutch trials and I won races in the World Cups and at the European Championships (1000m) while I was still recovering. I’m not gone just yet.”
Kongshaug also had a bumpy run-up to the World Championships.
“Like Kjeld, I’ve had a lot of sickness over the last period, so my body was not really at its peak. So when I entered the last lap, the head wanted it more than the body. I was so exhausted, that I was almost fainting on the podium.”
Peder Kongshaug was pleased with his performance in Calgary on Sunday, picking up a bronze medal in the 1500m event @ISU
The 22-year-old from Stavanger, Norway, was happy to win his first individual World Championships medal — and said he was closer to Stolz than he’d expected.
“I really wanted to race my own race today, and I knew that (Stolz) would probably fly away, but it was a weird feeling because I felt like, he’s not really that far away from me. I felt I was in the race for the whole race today, but in the last lap, where I normally excel, the legs today were totally dead.”
Ghiotto crushes 10,000m field
When Ghiotto took the ice for the final 10,000m pairing, he knew exactly what he had to do to retain his world title. Bloemen had stopped the clock at 12:47.01 in an exciting race against Jorrit Bergsma (NED).
Davide Ghiotto celebrates his second-straight 10,000m title at the ISU World Single Distances Championships on Sunday @ISU
Although he felt the pressure of defending his title, Ghiotto was confident he could do so. He skated a flat race, keeping his lap times under 31 seconds, until the final lap.
“I started in a good shape because in the first part of the race, it was easy for me. But I saw the Ted-Jan times and tried to stay a little bit under his time. I even tried to bring (the lap times) down to 30.0. I was dreaming Nils.”
The now retired Nils van der Poel (SWE) set the world record of 12:30.74 at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, but that dream turned out to be too far-fetched for Ghiotto in Calgary on Sunday, despite five 29-second laps.
“After a few laps I knew it was impossible. Then, I followed the Ted-Jan lap times and in the final lap I was just able to enjoy and celebrate.”
Bloemen thanked pairmate Bergsma for re-igniting his engine when his lap times went up in the second part of the race.
“I’m very grateful to Jorrit, that he threw me a bone at the end of the race. It was a struggle for me. Of course I was happy to get away with the silver medal. I think that's a testament for all the work I've put in and the mentality I've got to my races, just never give up. But I'm a little bit disappointed that there wasn't more in there and that I couldn't challenge Ghiotto a little bit closer today.”
Before Bloemen and Ghiotto skated, Graeme Fish (CAN) stopped the clock at 12:48.61, which eventually earned the 2020 World Champion and former world record holder a bronze medal.
Canadians Ted-Jan Bloemen and Graeme Fish flanked Davide Ghiotto on the 10,000m podium in Calgary on Sunday @ISU
After two years of bad luck, Fish felt as if he was back where he belonged.
“All I want to do is go out there and skate well and that's what I did today. I just wanted to lay down a time that I thought could put pressure on the top guys. There was a lot of really strong skaters in that field and, luckily for me, I was able to go out there and do what I do. It was nice to finally be on the podium after, I guess, four years of not being there.”
Fish has had a run of health issues.
“Two years ago, I did get COVID and that kind of ruined my fitness going into the Olympics, but I was still able to go out there and race. Then, unfortunately last year, I did get diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis, and I was originally told I wasn't actually going to be skating at all last year. Then, luckily, two months after, I was told I was able to, so my fitness wasn't as good last year. And it definitely takes a while to get your confidence back.”
Program
Thursday 15 February:
3000m Women
5000m Men
Team Sprint Women
Team Sprint Men
Friday 16 February:
Team Pursuit Women
Team Pursuit Men
500m Women
500m Men
Saturday 17 February
1000m Women
1000m Men
Mass Start Women Final
Mass Start Men Final
Sunday 18 February
5000m Women
10000m Men
1500m Women
1500m Men
