World championships 2022: A legendary weekend in short track speed skating

While the weekend of competition was marked by the last laps of Charles Hamelin's legendary career, Choi Min-jeong added to her own legend by winning her 4th overall world championship title this weekend at Maurice-Richard arena. 

By Carl Savard

Photo by Tony Chung

Choi Min-jeong still dominant

After being postponed for a few weeks, the ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Championships finally took place last weekend in Montreal. After a victory in the 1500m and a first place in the B final in the 500m on Saturday, Korean Choi Min-jeong won the 1000m and the 3000m super final on Sunday to claim her 4th overall World Championship title. With this fourth title, the 23-year-old athlete is now alone in third place for the most career titles among women behind China's Yang Yang (A), who was named champion six years in a row from 1997 to 2002, and Canada's Sylvie Daigle who won five titles between 1979 and 1990. Canada's Kim Boutin finished 2nd this weekend ahead of young Dutch star Xandra Velzeboer.

In the women's team relay, the race looked like it was going to end with the Canadians and the Dutch almost tied for the win, until Choi Min-jeong came from the outside to surprise everyone and finish ahead of Kim Boutin to give Korea the win. Canada won silver and the Netherlands bronze. 

Shaoang defends his title in style

On the men's side, Liu Shaoang, who also won the title last year in the Netherlands, took home the top honors this year. The Hungarian won all the individual finals of these 2022 championships. Pascal Dion of Canada and Lee June-seo finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in the overall ranking.

Curtain falls on Charles Hamelin's career

The home crowd was eagerly awaiting the men's 5000m relay as it would be the last chance to see Canada's Charles Hamelin on the ice. Hamelin had announced his retirement in 2018, but changed his mind as he felt he had what it took to complete another Olympic cycle. These four extra years ended up allowing him to win a 6th career Olympic medal. From the moment he stepped on the ice in the relay final, the crowd chanted his name. In the event that closed the weekend of competition, Hamelin helped Canada win the bronze medal, finishing behind the Koreans and the Dutch. 

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Charles Hamelin the best of luck in his future endeavors and to thank him on behalf of the entire team at Passion/Patin/Vitesse for all these years of emotional and exciting highlights.

For full results click HERE

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Colombia and France stand out in Ibagué

The 2021 Inline Speed Skating World Championships ended today in Ibagué, Colombia.

By Jackob Savard

Photo: Luis Martinez - World Skate

At the end of the track and road championships, Colombian skaters won 59 of the 126 medals available. Among these 59 medals, 33 of the 42 gold medals up for grab were won. France took the second place with 19 medals including 4 gold while Taiwan took the third place with five medals including two gold. 

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Colombia on top

Led by Luz Karime Garzon (3 gold and 2 silver) and Geiny Pajaro (3 gold and 1 silver) in the senior category, Colombia took the title of best nation for the 18th time in 21 years.

Beddiaf / Ferrié duo leads the charge for France

The long-time French duo of Nolan Beddiaf and Martin Ferrié are one of the big reasons for France's success at the 2021 World Championships. All three races in which the two were competing were won by one of them. Ferrie won the 15km Road Elimination and the Marathon, as well as participating in France's silver medal in the relay and taking bronze in the 10km Track Points Race. Beddiaf won the 10km road race and finished second to Ferrié in the 15km. Among the seniors, Mathilde Pedronno, Marie Dupuy, Marine Lefeuvre and Gwendal le Pivert all had their moments on the podium as well. 

Historic medal for India

Junior skater Velkumar Anandkumar made history in the 15 km road elimination. By finishing second behind Colombian Miguel Fonseca, he became the first skater from India to reach a podium at the World Championships. 

Title #5 in 100m for Fernandez

The great Spanish skater Ioseba Fernandez won the 100m gold medal for the fifth time in his career. He is increasingly claming his place among the undisputed legends of inline skating.

Yang Ho-Chen leads Taiwan to two gold medals

Taiwan's Yang Ho-Chen led her country to two gold medals at the track championships. She won the 1000m and took part in her team's relay victory.

For complete results go HERE

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Hungarian double and unbeatable Schulting at World championships

Suzanne Schulting and Liu Shaoang were crowned 2021 World Short Track Champions last weekend in Dordrecht.

By Jackob Savard 

Photo: ISU speed skating

Some of the best short track speed skaters in the world were in Dordrecht this past weekend for the 2021 World Championships. China, Korea, Japan and Great Britain were absent from the competition. 

Schulting dominates 

Suzanne Schulting took the honours in the women's event. The 23-year-old Dutchwoman, 2021 European Champion, won all distances in the women's championship to defend her title as overall World Champion. Canada's Courtney Sarault finished second overall. The 20-year-old finished 2nd in the 1500m and 3000m and 3rd in the 1000m. Italian Arianna Fontana, who did not compete at the European Championships to focus on the World Championships, finished third. Selma Poutsma and Hanne Desmet were fourth and fifth respectively. 

Liu brothers get first and second

Liu Shaoang and Liu Shaolin Sandor pulled off an Hungarian double by capturing the first two steps of the men's cumulative podium. Shaoang took the overall and 500m title while Shaolin took second place and the 1000m title. Russia's Semen Elistrarov completed the overall podium while France's Sebastien Lepape and Itzhak de Laat of the Netherlands finished fourth and fifth.

Dutch wins in the relays

The Dutch teams won both relays to close the championship. In the women's category, the French and Italian women completed the podium. The Hungarians and Italians took second and third place in the men's relay. 

Several national records lowered

No less than 20 national records were broken during the competition. Suzanne Schulting set the Dutch 500m and 1000m records, Courtney Sarault set the Canadian 1000m record, and Sofia Prosvirnova set the Russian 500m record. You can take a look at the complete list put on by our collaborator Caroline Truchon HERE. 

To rewatch the races, click HERE

To browse the final results, click HERE

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Kim Boutin will not compete at the 2021 World Championships

Women's national short track team leader Kim Boutin will not compete at the 2021 world championships in the Netherlands March 5-7.

By Jackob Savard

Photo: Danny Kim

Three-time Olympic medallist Kim Boutin is not on the list of Canadian skaters heading to the Netherlands for the 2021 World Championships. Here's her announcement:

'' I made the choice not to compete at Worlds this season. It's a totally considered decision and I'm convinced it's the right one. We've had a roller-coaster year with the pandemic and it was a good time to step back. My goal is clear: I want to be at the top of my mental and physical fitness for the Olympics in 2022 and I am confident that the plan we are putting in place will get me there.

In life it is important to listen to each other, I have always functioned this way and it has always paid off. 

You're going to be in for a real treat with the team of skaters that will represent Canada at Worlds. These girls are awesome to watch! ''

Women's team: 

Courtney Sarault

Alyson Charles

Florence Bunelle

Danaé Blais

Claudia Gagnon

Camille De Serres-Rainville 

Men's team: 

Charles Hamelin

Steven Dubois

Maxime Laoun

William Dandjinou

Jordan Pierre-Gilles

Pascal Dion

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World Record on 10000m for van der Poel, surprise 1500m win for Wiklund

The 2021 World Long Track Speed Skating Championship came to an end today in Heerenveen.

By Jackob Savard

Photo: ISU Speed skating - Getty Images

On the final day of the 2021 World Long Track Championship, the ladies’ and men’s 1500m, the ladies’ 5000m and the men's 10,000m were on the program.  

Wiklund causes surprise in 1500m

Twenty-year-old Norwegian Ragne Wiklund caused a surprise in the 1500m by setting a new personal best of 1:54.613 and taking the coveted world title. Wiklund, who has never before won an individual World Cup medal, spoiled herself today with a World Championship title. Brittany Bowe of the U.S., and Evegeniia Lalenkova of Russia were second and third respectively.

Consolation for Krol

After being disqualified for a false start yesterday on 1000m, Dutchman Thomas Krol won the title today on 1500m. His time of 1:43.752, one of the fastest times in Heerenveen's history, put him at the top of the podium. It is Krol’s second career world title on 1500m. Kjeld Nuis came very close but finished the day in second place. Patrick Roest completed the Dutch podium sweep.

 

Another victory for van der Poel

Swedish sensation Nils van der Poel won his second World Championship title of the weekend with a legendary performance on 10,000m. The 24-year-old skater skated the new world record on the distance of 12:32.949. This record is very spectacular considering it was not set in Salt Lake City or Calgary, where altitude usually favours such marks. The previous world record of 12:33.86 belonged to Canadian Graeme Fish, who was absent this weekend. Jorrit Bergsma from the Netherlands finished second at 12:45.868 and Russia's Alex Rumyantsev was third with a new personal best of 12:54.746.

Schouten victorious in the 5000m

Irene Schouten, who started in the first of six pairs, skated her personal best and set the reference time of 6:48.537. No one was able to dethrone her in the next five pairs. Schouten added this world championship title to her two bronze medals on 3000m and mass start from earlier in the championship. Russia's Natalia Voronina finished second while Dutch Carlijn Achtereekte took third place.

For the complete results, click HERE

For our day 1 recap, click HERE

For our day 2 recap, click HERE

For our day 3 recap, click HERE

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American and Dutch victories on the third day of the World championship

Americans Brittany Bowe and Joey Mantia and Dutch Kai Verbij and Marijke Groenewoud are the world champions of the third day of competition in Heerenveen. 

By Jackob Savard

Photo: ISU Speed skating 

On day 2, the mass start and the 1000m were on the program. 

Bowe takes the 1000m title 

Brittany Bowe won the women's 1,000m with a time of 1:14.128. It was the American's third career world title on 1000m. The young Dutch skater Jutta Leerdam, 2021 European champion and 2020 1000m World Champion had to settle for silver. Russia's Elizaveta Golubeva took third place by achieving her personal best of 1:14.848 on the distance.

Penalty for Krol, opened door for Verbij

Thomas Krol, one of the favourites to win the distance, was disqualified after two false starts. His Dutch teammate Kai Verbij won the title with a time of 1:08.052. Pavel Kulizhnikov got silver and Laurent Dubreuil got bronze.

First title in career for Groenewoud

While many were expecting to see Olympic medallist and two-time world champion Irene Schouten of the Netherlands win, it was her young teammate Marijke Groenewoud who won her first career world title with a strong last lap. Rounding out the podium were Canada's Ivanie Blondin and Irene Schouten.

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Title #3 for Mantia

American Joey Mantia won his third career World mass start title with a powerful final lap. Dutch veteran Arjan Stroetinga and Belgium's Bart Swings took second and third place respectively. 

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The World championships will conclude tomorrow with the 1500m, the ladies’ 5000m and the men’s 10 000m.

For the complete results, click HERE 

You can watch or rewatch the winning races HERE

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Dubreuil world champion, team pursuit victories for the Netherlands

The world's best speed skaters took the ice in Heerenveen today for the second day of the 2021 World Championships.

By Jackob Savard

Photo: ISU Speed skating

On day 2, the team pursuit and the 500m were on the program.

Dubreuil crowned

Canada's Laurent Dubreuil captured the world title on 500m with a time of 34.398 seconds. This is the first career title for the 28-year-old skater, who had won a medal in three of the four 500m races this season. Rounding out the podium were Russia's Pavel Kulizhnikov and Dutchman Dai Dai Ntab. 

Golikova 500m Champion

Angelina Golikova won the women's 500m in 37.14 seconds. Twenty-year-old Femke Kok from the Netherlands finished second while Olga Fatkulina finished third. World and European short track champion Suzanne Schulting finished 14th. 

Revenge for the Dutch in the team pursuit

After losing to the Norwegians and Canadians at the last World Cup, the Dutch team had their revenge today at world championships by winning both the men's and women's competition. In both categories, Canada took silver and the Russian Federation took bronze.

The World championship continues tomorrow with the mass start and the 1000m.

For the complete results, click HERE

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