Irene Schouten breaks track record to win gold as Jordan Stolz makes history in Speed Skating World Championships

Irene Schouten broke her own track record in the 5000m event at the Speed Skating World Championships on home soil in Heerenveen, Netherlands.

The Dutch star finished in a time of 6:41.25, over four seconds faster than the track record she set in 2021.

She needed to be at her best too, against Norwegian Ragne Wiklund, who also rode a personal-best time to finish second and win her second silver medal of the day.

Martina Sablikova of Czech Republic won bronze.

Earlier in the final day of the World Championships, Wiklund won silver behind another Dutch skater, this time falling behind Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong in the 1500m.

The Olympic bronze medallist could not quite break her track record, missing out by 0.59 seconds when finishing in a time of 1:53.54.

World record holder Miho Takagi secured bronze behind Wiklund.

In the men’s events, there was frustration for home supporters, as they narrowly missed out on gold in both the 1500m and the 10000m.

American Jordan Stolz secured gold in the 1500m, edging out world-record holder Kjeld Nuis by 0.23 seconds, while another Dutchman Thomas Krol beat compatriot Wesly Dijs to bronze. That win made 18-year-old Stolz the first man to win three individual titles at the same World Championships, having already won the 500m and 1000m.

In the 10000m, it was Italian Davide Ghiotto, who set a new personal best time, who defeated Dutchman Jorrit Bergsma by 14.29 seconds.

Canada’s Ted-Jan Bloemen finished third, just edging past Patrick Roest of the Netherlands to bronze.

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