#SpeedSkating #ShortTrackSkating
Speed Skating fans, get ready to mark your calendars! The International Skating Union (ISU) has released its competition calendar for the next four seasons of Speed Skating and Short Track Speed Skating, and it promises to be an exciting few years for fans of the sport. From ISU World Championships to ISU World Cups, there will be no shortage of thrilling events to watch.
Irene Schouten (NED) competes in the Women's 5000m during the 2023 ISU World Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands. ©International Skating Union
In Speed Skating, the 2023/24 season kicks off with the ISU World Cups in Asia in November followed by two stops in Europe before crossing all the way to North America to end the series in February. The season will culminate with two action-packed events, the ISU World Speed Skating Championships will be held in Calgary (CAN) for the Single Distances format and in Inzell (GER) for the Allround & Sprint format.
Ivanie Blondin (CAN) leads the pack in the Women's Mass Start semi-finals during the 2023 ISU World Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands. © International Skating Union
In Short Track Speed Skating, the 2023/24 season starts with the fall World Cups in Canada. We will then head east in December for stops in China and the Republic of Korea before ending the series in Europe and crowning the Crystal Globe winners. The Short Track season will conclude in Rotterdam (NED) in a much-anticipated event that will keep you off your sits.
Alex Varnyu (HUN) and Mateusz Mikolajuk (POL) are pictured during the 2023 ISU World Cup Short Track in Dordrecht, Netherlands. © International Skating Union
One of the highlights for the 2024/25 season will be the Olympic Winter Games Test Events for both disciplines to be held in the month of February 2024 in Milan (ITA). The 2025/26 season will be marked by the Olympic Winter Games which will take place all through February 2026 but before we will have thrilling ISU World Cup events that serve as Qualifying Competitions for Milano Cortina 2026.
Kyunghwan Hong (KOR), Sjinkie Knegt (NED), Keita Watanabe (JPN), Pascal Dion (CAN) and Jiwon Park (KOR) compete in the Mens 1000m Semi Final during the 2023 ISU World Cup Short Track in Dordrecht, Netherlands. © International Skating Union
But the excitement does not end there! In the 2026/27 season, the best Skaters in the world will travel the globe again, visiting different continents, countries and cultures. The season will end in Asia as we go back to Seoul, Republic of Korea for the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships and we visit Beijing (CHN) for the ISU World Speed Skating Championships, Single Distances format.
With all these upcoming competitions, the next few years of Speed Skating promise to be nothing short of electrifying.
Check out ISU Communication 2557 for the full detailed list of dates and locations for the next 4 seasons by clicking HERE.