Stolz victorious again, Ghiotto sets world record at speed skating World Cup in Calgary

World Cup speed skating in Calgary has been nothing short of spectacular, with records falling and hot streaks continuing on the second day of competition at the Olympic Oval.

Italian skater Davide Ghiotto stole the show by setting a new world record in the men’s 10,000 meters event, clinching the gold medal in the process. His time of 12 minutes, 25.69 seconds shattered the previous record set by Sweden’s Nils van der Poel at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. Ghiotto’s victory was a dream come true for the 31-year-old, who had finished behind van der Poel in a previous record-setting race.

Meanwhile, American sensation Jordan Stolz continued his unbeaten streak in World Cup races this season by winning the men’s 1,000 meters event. Stolz, who has dominated across three distances, praised the lightning-fast ice at the Olympic Oval, known for being the “fastest ice in the world”. The 20-year-old is determined to maintain his winning record heading into the upcoming races.

The Oval’s reputation for producing world records was further solidified as 20 skaters achieved personal best times, and three track records were broken over the two days of competition. Despite the aging infrastructure of the 37-year-old facility, the athletes showcased their incredible skills on the fast ice.

Canadian skaters, including Graeme Fish and Ted-Jan Bloemen, put up strong performances but narrowly missed out on the podium. Fish, in particular, delivered his fastest 10,000 meters time at the Oval, highlighting the potential of the venue despite its maintenance challenges.

The women’s events saw Dutch skater Joy Beune claim victory in both the 1,000 and 1,500 meters races, further showcasing the intense competition at the World Cup. With the final day of racing set to feature the men’s and women’s 500 meters and mass starts, as well as team sprints, the excitement continues to build in Calgary.

As the Canadian team aims to make their mark in the remaining events, fans can follow the action live on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem. The speed skating World Cup in Calgary promises thrilling races and potential for more records to be broken before the competition concludes.