ISU

She's won the overall Mass Start World Cup twice, she's European Mass Start champion and she participated in two Olympic Games, but as a native from Rome Francesca Lollobrigida still is an anomaly in the Speed Skating world.

New skates, coaches, countries, languages, techniques, mental focus and tattoos – the season following an Olympic Games allows athletes to try new things, and skaters on the ISU World Cup Short Track circuit take every chance to test what could make them go even faster at the next Games.

On January 2, 2019 Dutch Speed Skater Paulien van Deutekom passed away following a six-month battle against cancer. "It is with shock and sadness that we learned of Paulien’s passing” said the ISU President Mr Jan Dijkema.

Czech Republic’s Michal Brezina has been a fixture in the skating world for many years. The amicable skater is known for his excellent jumping technique and his modern, nonchalant style on the ice.

Olympic 1000m champion Samuel Girard (CAN) says other sports should watch and learn from Short Track Speed Skating’s introduction of a Mixed Relay, in which men and women compete together over 2000m.

The festive season is approaching and it is the time of year to reflect on what has passed and look toward 2019.

As 2018 comes to an end, the ISU President, Mr. Jan Dijkema, would like to address a message to all skating friends.

When you have a passion, it doesn’t matter where you come from and where you have to go. You follow your dream even if it means you have to leave your home and move to a foreign country which language you don’t speak and that has a very different culture. And when you share your passion with someone, it can become love.

Skaters are forever pushing bundaries and limits when in comes to speed skating, breaking records and personal bests. Have a look at what they had in store for the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Heerenveen by watching the Highlights. 

Eteri Tutberidze has coached some of the most recent talents in Russian skating. In February 2018, she was the coach behind both the Ladies Olympic Champion and Olympic silver medallist.

It’s one of the most exciting events around – and the current crop of athletes are the fastest of all time. We explain the fast and furious world of Short Track Relay…

Danila Semerikov (RUS) surprised a packed Thialf Stadium – and himself – by winning the Men's 5000m in track record time at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating on Sunday, after Kjeld Nuis (NED) had taken revenge for his disappointing 1500m result on Saturday with gold in the 1000m.

Brittany Bowe (USA) skated the perfect race to beat her own track record and take the Ladies' 1000m gold medal, before Antoinette de Jong (NED) clinched the third 3000m World Cup gold of her career at the ISU World Cup Speed skating in Heerenveen on Sunday.

Thomas Krol (NED) took the first World Cup win of his career in the 1500m at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Heerenveen on Saturday. Pavel Kulizhnikov (RUS) won his fourth gold of the season in the 500m, while Cheonho Um and Jae-Won Chung managed a Republic of Korean double with gold and silver in the Mass Start. 

Ireen Wüst (NED) confirmed a need for speed after winning the Ladies' 1500m in a new track record at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Heerenveen on Saturday. Nao Kodaira (JPN) also broke her own track record to take gold in the 500m and her compatriot Nana Takagi won the Mass Start.