Speed Skating's Global Stage: Norway and Italy Shine at World Championships
HAMAR, Norway — Against the backdrop of Vikingskipet’s storied ice, the 2025 World Speed Skating Championships unfolded as a tapestry of national pride, personal triumphs and the continuation of cherished traditions that define this elegant yet powerful winter sport.
The dual championships — long track in Norway’s Hamar and short track in Beijing — offered a comprehensive display of speed skating’s global reach and evolving competitive landscape, with established powers maintaining their prominence while new narratives emerged.
Norway Electrifies Home Crowd
Norwegian skaters capitalized on familiar surroundings at the Vikingskipet arena, known as “The Viking Ship” for its distinctive architecture. Sander Eitrem and Peder Kongshaug delivered performances that resonated deeply with the partisan crowd, securing gold medals in the 5,000 meters and 1,500 meters respectively.
These victories represented more than individual achievement; they reinforced Norway’s enduring connection to a sport deeply embedded in the nation’s cultural identity. Speed skating in Norway transcends mere athletic competition, serving as a unifying force in a country where winter sports are interwoven with national pride.
Italy’s Renaissance on Ice
Perhaps the most compelling narrative emerged from the Italian contingent, which produced its most successful World Championships in the nation’s speed skating history. Davide Ghiotto’s victory in the grueling 10,000 meters — a race that demands extraordinary endurance and tactical precision over 25 laps — headlined Italy’s unprecedented performance.
Francesca Lollobrigida added to Italy’s medal count with gold in the women’s 5,000 meters, while Andrea Giovannini triumphed in the mass start, a relatively recent addition to the championship program that combines endurance with strategic positioning and sprint capability.
This triple gold medal performance signals Italy’s emergence as a multifaceted threat in a sport historically dominated by northern European nations and, more recently, North American and Asian competitors.
Dutch Tradition Continues
The Netherlands, where speed skating holds near-religious status, maintained its position among the sport’s elite. Joy Beune’s victory in the women’s 1,500 meters — considered by many the most complete test of a skater’s abilities — highlighted the Dutch program’s continued excellence.
Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong secured silver in the same event, while Marijke Groenewoud captured gold in the women’s mass start, demonstrating the depth of talent that has made the Netherlands the sport’s most consistent power over decades.
For the Dutch, these championships represented both continuation and transition, as established veterans shared the spotlight with emerging talents like Joep Wennemars, who won the 1,000 meters while carrying the legacy of his father, Erben Wennemars, a former world champion whose commentary work has kept him prominent in the sport.
American Promise and Disappointment
Jordan Stolz, the American prodigy who has redefined expectations for U.S. speed skating, experienced the bittersweet nature of elite competition. His silver medal in the 1,500 meters — a distance requiring both explosive power and aerobic endurance — would represent triumph for most skaters but left Stolz with a sense of opportunity missed.
His reaction illustrates the psychological burden carried by athletes who compete not only against their rivals but against their own potential and expectations.
Short Track Drama in Beijing
The parallel World Short Track Championships in Beijing offered its own compelling narratives, with the Netherlands’ Xandra Velzeboer overcoming injury to capture the 500-meter title. Short track, with its pack-style racing and tight corners, presents different challenges than the time-trial format of long track, demanding split-second tactical decisions while navigating proximity to competitors.
Canada demonstrated particular strength in the 1,000 meters through standout performances from Dubois and Dandjinou, while Dutch competitor Daan Kos made his first World Championship final, placing sixth — a significant achievement in a discipline where experience often proves decisive.
Dutch skater Zoë Deltrap’s fall in her first World Championship final highlighted the unforgiving nature of short track, where the margin between triumph and disappointment can be measured in millimeters of edge control or a momentary lapse in concentration.
A Sport Rich in Tradition
Among speed skating’s most distinctive traditions is the ceremonial hat presented to world champions in long track — a practice spanning more than three decades. This symbolic gesture connects contemporary athletes to the sport’s rich heritage, creating a visual through-line that transcends generations.
The hat tradition exemplifies how speed skating balances innovation and reverence for history. While equipment technology and training methodologies evolve continuously, the sport maintains connections to its past through such rituals and the multigenerational involvement of families like the Wennemars.
Looking Forward
As the international speed skating community reflects on these championships and looks toward the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, several narratives will shape the intervening season. Italy’s emergence as a multidisciplinary threat adds intrigue to their home Olympics, while Norway’s resurgence suggests a potential shift in the sport’s competitive balance.
For the Netherlands, the challenge remains maintaining their historical excellence while navigating generational transition. Meanwhile, nations like the United States, Canada, and various Asian powers continue their efforts to break into the sport’s upper echelon consistently.
The 2025 World Championships ultimately served as both culmination and prologue — celebrating current excellence while foreshadowing the narratives that will define speed skating’s immediate future on its grandest stages.
