A look back at the 2020 FISU World University Speed Skating Championship

The Jaap Eden ice rink of Amsterdam welcomed the 2020 World University Speed Skating Championship from the 10 to the 12th March.

By Jackob Savard
Photo: Schaats Foto's

Some of the best long track speed skaters attending university competed in the Netherlands this week on 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 10000m and in the team pursuit. The last day of racing which included a mixed team sprint and the mass starts had to be cancelled because of the covid-19 virus.


Dutch skaters dominate the longer distances

No less than 12 of the 18 medals on the three longer distances (1500m, 5000m & ladies 3000m / men 10000m) were awarded to Dutch skaters. Olympic champion Esmee Visser won both the ladies 3000m and 5000m titles and skated a track record on 5000m. Here Dutch teammate Sanne In ‘t Hof also had a great week winning the 1500m and collecting bronze on 3000m and 5000m. Sterre Jonkers who’s also skating for the Netherlands got silver on 3000m and 1500m. Other ladies’ long distances medalists include Dutch Paulien Verhaar and Poland’s Magdanela Czyszczon. 

In the men’s category, the 5000m and 10000m podium were exactly the same as Dutch Victor Ramler won both times in front of American Ethan Cepuran and Dutch Jeroan Janissen. Ramler established a track record of 14:17.03 on 100000m. On 1500m, it was Poland’s Marcin Bachanek who took gold. Russia’s Aleksandr Podolskij and Belarus’ Viktor Rudenko completed the podium.

Kuznetsova and Matsui best sprinters in Amsterdam

Russian Irina Kuznetsova won the 500m with a track record of 39.38 and also finished second on 1000m. She was followed by Kaja Ziomek and Andzelika Wojcik from Poland on 500m. Dutch Sanneke de Neeling won the 1000m with a track record in front the Russian and Dutch Femke Beuling. 

Yamato Matsui from Japan won the 500m and 1000m titles with track records. Both times, Belarusian Ignat Golovatjuk finished second. His Japanese teammate Wataru Morishige was on the podium with them on 500m while Russian Lobas Joined them on 1000m.

Team pursuit

The Dutch ladies were the strongest in the team pursuit and claimed the title. Poland and Belarus took second and third place. In the men’s race, it was the Russians who skated to gold while Poland and the Netherlands had to settle for silver and bronze.

For the full results, click HERE

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