“I guess I wrote some history,” Jordan Stolz (USA) commented modestly, and he had indeed. Already the youngest ever World Single Distance Champion after winning both the 500m and 1000m, the American sealed an historic hattrick on the final day in Heerenveen with victory in the 1500m. It makes the 18-year-old the first skater in World Single Distance Championship history to win three individual distances. Another milestone winner rounded off the Men’s competition, as Davide Ghiotto became Italy’s first-ever World Single Distance Champion with gold in the 10,000m.
Jordan Stolz wrote more speed skating history in Heerenveen on Sunday @ISU
Finishing with a flourish
Olympic silver medalist Thomas Krol (NED) had set the mark at 1:44.30 but Stolz struggled to find his rhythm in the penultimate pair versus Kazuya Yamada (JPN), opening slower than Krol.
“I wanted to go a bit faster, but when I hit that inner just going into the back stretch, I just felt a little bit off. And then that outer, I felt good. Then when I came into the outer after the first lap, I just attacked it as much as I could.”
Stolz is the first male skater to win three individual World Single Distance golds in one Championships @ISU
Going into the final lap, Stolz was still 0.44 behind Krol’s split time but, posting the fastest final lap of the field in 27.77, the American youngster stopped the clock at 1:43.59 to beat Krol by 0.71.
The title was not his yet though. Kjeld Nuis (NED) took up the challenge in the final heat, and the Olympic Champion went out fast. The scoreboard showed faster splits than Stolz throughout the race, but Nuis was unable to keep up the pace and finished 0.23 adrift in second.
Stolz (centre) beat previous champions Nuis (left) and Krol to top the podium @ISU
“I was worried,” Stolz said. “But yeah, I just had confidence in the last lap and I just had a little bit on him. [Compared to the other two titles] there was a bit more suspense, so I think I enjoyed it more.”
Nuis didn’t enjoy at all, kicking away one of the track markers in frustration after he finished.
“I was gutted,” he admitted.
“It was a good race, it felt good, the crowd was cheering me on. But those final meters, your legs hurt and you don’t know how to skate, and then it’s two tenths short. I left it out there in the final 80 meters.”
History and inspiration
Before racing, Stolz knew that a third title would make history, but he did not allow that fact to disturb his focus.
“Not really,” he said. “If it were to happen, it would be great, and if it didn't, I still win two World Championships, which is still a huge accomplishment.”
Nuis and Krol taking silver and bronze marks the end of an era. The two Dutchman had divided the 1500m World titles between them at the last four Championships. They also finished 1-2 at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
Kjeld Nuis finished 0.23 behind Stolz to take silver @ISU
The rise of Stolz this season has inspired both.
Nuis said: “If Krol and me would have finished one-two again, it would be like business as usual and easy-going into the summer. But now there’s someone who gives us a real challenge.”
Krol commented: “All credits to Jordan, although today’s race was a bit less impressive than yesterday’s [in the 1000m]. My hands are itching to go full gas [in training] this summer and give Jordan a hard time next year.”
Olympic 1500m silver medalist Thomas Krol ended with bronze at the Worlds @ISU
A dream come true for Ghiotto
Italy went into this year’s Championships having won eight (six silvers, two bronze) Worlds medals – the most any nation has claimed without winning a gold. Davide Ghiotto had already come close with silver in the 5000m, but on the final day the long distance specialist finally gave Italy its long-awaited gold medal.
“I'm very happy, it's a dream come true. I worked a lot for this title,” Ghiotto smiled.
Davide Ghiotto celebrates becoming Italy's first World Champion @ISU
The Italian started in the fourth pairing, after Jorrit Bergsma (NED) had already clocked a time of 12:55.64. After shaking off pair-mate Takahiro Ito (JPN) early on, Ghiotto set out on a mission.
“I raced alone and for me that’s good, because I think about nothing else, just about the lap times. Before the race I spoke with my trainer Maurizio [Marchetto, ITA]. We decided to skate 30.4 or 30.5 [lap times], which would be a new national record. I tried and in the last part of the race, I could even skate [lap times] under the 30 seconds, and I finished in a pretty good time.”
Ghiotto and his team react to winning an historic gold @ISU
Ghiotto finished in 12:41.35 and indeed broke the Italian record by almost four seconds. Roest took up the challenge in the penultimate pairing but was unable to match Ghiotto’s lap times, finishing fourth in 13:02.92.
Ghiotto set a new Italian record on his way to gold in the 10,000m @ISU
“If I would have started slower, I might have been able to skate for a medal, but that’s not what I aim at,” the Dutchman explained his tactics.
Bergsma’s time got him silver in the end.
“It was more than I’d hoped for after I crossed the finish line. I thought it would be bronze, but when I saw Patrick [Roest] struggle, I knew that it was going to be more.
Jorrit Bergsma claimed the silver medal behind Ghiotto @ISU
“The conditions were very tough, so it’s all the more special that Ghiotto sets a time like that.
“He told me he was proud to be with me and Ted-Jan (Bloemen, CAN) on the podium and that’s nice. There’s a lot of mutual respect.”
The Men's 10,000m podium in Heerenveen @ISU
Bloemen had already skated 13:01.84 in the second heat and was surprised to end up in bronze:
“There are so many emotions. The past few days were horrible, I didn’t get into my stroke well and I sort of panicked, because I had worked so hard for this. I really didn’t feel like skating the 10,000m, so I’m very proud to skate like this and take home a medal.”
Ted-Jan Bloeman was proud to win bronze @ISU
Program
The World Single Distance Championships start with the 3000m for Women, the 5000m for Men and the Team Sprint events for both genders on Thursday. On the following two days the program is similar for both genders. Friday features the Team Pursuit and the 500m, and Saturday starts with the Mass Start semi-finals, followed by the 1000m, to conclude with the Mass Start finals. On Sunday both genders will contest the 1500m gold, before the event closes off with the 10,000m for men and the 5000m for women.
Where to Watch
Viewers will be able to watch the races via their national broadcasters’ channel. For countries where there are no broadcasters, the ISU will offer a live stream on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. You will find the full list on the Where to Watch webpage.
Subscribe to the ISU Newsletter to receive the latest information about events, and to the Skating ISU YouTube Channel to receive notifications when live streams start or new videos are published.
For further information on the ISU World Speed Skating Championships, visit the event webpage here.
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