ISU

The International Skating Union (ISU) duly noted the press release issued by the International Testing Agency (ITA) and at this time it has nothing to add other than the below.

Nils van der Poel (SWE) will start the Men’s 10,000m as main favorite, having won the world title with a superb world record on lowland track Heerenveen (NED) last season. The 25-year-old Swede started his Olympic campaign in Beijing with a hard-fought gold in the 5000m on Sunday. His Dutch rival Patrick Roest (NED) took silver in the 5000m, but he was happy to have closed the big early-season gap at the National Speed Skating Oval between him and Van der Poel.

The closer she comes to the line, the faster she gets. Irene Schouten (NED) is the only woman who’s able to bring her lap times down when the going gets tough. Adding the 5000m Olympic gold to Saturday’s 3000m title, the 29-year-old Dutchwoman reigns supreme in the Women’s long distances at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Isabelle Weidemann (CAN) stepped up from 3000m bronze to 5000m silver, and Martina Sáblíková (CZE) seized bronze to complete her medal set in the distance.

Referring to the recent media reports, relating to the Figure Skating Team Event, the International Skating Union cannot disclose any information about any possible Anti-Doping rule violation.

After a day’s rest at Beijing’s National Speed Skating Oval, Speed Skating competition resumes with the Women’s 5000m. After having started the Olympic Games with 3000m gold, Irene Schouten (NED) is the one to beat again. The imperious Dutch Skater is the only one in the Women’s field to skate a negative split in the longest distance, a feat that gives her just a little bit extra in the gruesome final laps. Long distance World Cup leader Isabelle Weidemann (CAN) will probably be Schouten’s main rival.

Inspired by the monumental 1500m win by Ireen Wüst (NED) on Monday, Kjeld Nuis (NED) retained his Olympic 1500m title in Beijing on Tuesday. Thomas Krol (NED) skated a blistering 1500m himself, but had to settle for silver. Kim Min-Seok (KOR) took bronze, joining Nuis on the podium like he did four years ago.

It’s the King’s Race and every Speed Skater dreams of bringing home the Olympic 1500m medal, but it’s one of the most excruciating events in sports all across the board. Defending champion Kjeld Nuis (NED) looks forward to the Men’s 1500m race in a combination of excitement and anxiety.

The ISU Short Track Speed Skating Chief Referee received two protests during the Beijing 2022 Short Track Speed Skating events of February 7. 

The most decorated athlete in Speed Skating history once again managed to rise to the occasion like no other, adding yet another Olympic title to her sheer endless list of honors. In a new Olympic record of 1 minute and 53.28 seconds, Ireen Wüst (NED) took her career third Olympic 1500m gold, her career sixth Olympic gold in total and her 12th Olympic medal.

Speed Skating legend Ireen Wüst (NED) will start her final Olympic campaign chasing a career third 1500m title and a sixth Olympic gold in total at the National Speed Skating Oval on February 7. Four years ago Wüst beat Miho Takagi (JPN) by 0.20s to seize her second Olympic 1500m gold. Takagi will again be one of her main rivals at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. “There’s Takagi, (Brittany) Bowe (USA), Antoinette (de Jong, NED)…”, Wüst named her rivals. “I’m in the mix too.”

Nils van der Poel (SWE) won the men’s 5000m, but it did not come easy. The Swede was still one second behind Patrick Roest (NED) at the 4600m split, only to edge out his Dutch rival with a superb final lap. Roest took silver and Hallgeir Engebråten (NOR) seized a surprise bronze. Finishing in 6 minutes and 8.84 seconds, Van der Poel broke Sven Kramer‘s (NED) 2018 Olympic record, to definitely close off the era of the threefold champion, who finished in a disappointing ninth place.

Irene Schouten (NED) lived up to the expectations when Speed Skating got underway with the Women’s 3000m at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games on Saturday. Defying the pressure of being the top favorite, she won in a new Olympic record time of three minutes and 56.93 seconds. Francesca Lollobrigida (ITA) and Isabelle Weidemann (CAN) came in second and third.

“Nils van der Poel (SWE) is the big favorite,” said Jorrit Bergsma (NED) two days before the Men’s 5000m in Beijing. The Swedish world record holder has been in a league of his own in the long distances so far this season, but Bergsma will not settle for second just yet: “These are the Olympics and you never know.” Triple Olympic 5000m champion Sven Kramer (NED) knows all about it. The Dutch legend is chasing a career tenth medal in his final individual Olympic race at his fifth Games in Beijing.

The Olympic Speed Skating competition kicks off with the Women’s 3000m on Saturday. For Irene Schouten (NED), it is the start of a campaign in which she strives to equal legendary Soviet Skater Lidia Skoblikova, who won a record of four medals at a single Winter Olympics event in 1960.

Jade Groenewoud (NED) and Joep Wennemars (NED) took the Women’s and Men’s Junior World Allround titles in yet another impressive Dutch medal haul at the ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships in Innsbruck last weekend. Pien Smit (NED) missed out on a double world title, crashing out of the Women’s 1000m after having won the 500m. Despite their dominance in the individual events, the Dutch men had to bow their heads in the Team Pursuit with Japan coming out victorious of the race.