The winners of the first-ever International Skating Union (ISU) Speed Skating Awards have been revealed during a special ceremony event, celebrating the outstanding performances, world champions, and world-record breakers who defined the 2025/26 season on the ice.  

The Awards Ceremony took place on Sunday March 8^th, following the conclusion of the ISU Speed Skating World Championships 2026 in Heerenveen, the Netherlands. The event marked a historic moment for the sport, as the ISU introduced a dedicated Awards program for Speed Skating designed to enhance athlete recognition by shining a brighter spotlight on their incredible achievements. 

ISU President Jae Youl Kim addressing the audience at the 2026 ISU Speed Skating Awards Ceremony in Heerenveen, Netherlands. © ISU

Addressing the skaters, ISU President Jae Youl Kim said: “This celebration is for all of you. You are the heart and soul of our sport, and we want to shine an even brighter spotlight on your accomplishments. A few years ago, the ISU launched Vision 2030 to modernize and strengthen our sport. Our goal is to take skating to the next level - so that more people watch you, follow you, and are inspired by your talent, dedication and passion.”

Award winners:

Most Improved Skater – Valérie Maltais (CAN)

This award recognizes the athlete who has taken the most impressive step forward from one season to the next in both results and performances. 

Valérie Maltais (CAN) posing with ISU President Jae Youl Kim at the 2026 ISU Speed Skating Awards Ceremony in Heerenveen, Netherlands. © ISU

Canada’s Maltais delivered a remarkable season highlighted by Olympic gold in the Milano Cortina 2026 Team Pursuit competition, alongside two bronze medals in the 1500m and 3000m. She also became the only skater at the Olympic Winter Games to win a Long Track medal while already having a Short Track silver medal to her name from the 3000m relay at Sochi 2014. 

“A year ago. I changed my objectives,” said Maltais after taking Olympic bronze in the 1500m. “I didn't want to finish fifth or sixth, I didn’t need another top 10 in my career. I just wanted to win a medal, and I was ready to go all in. And if it didn't work out, it's okay, I was ready to take that risk, to make bold changes that will push my body and really improve my physiology, and in the end, we were able to do that.”

Best Newcomer – Metoděj Jílek (CZE)

This award is presented to a skater new to the senior level who has made an immediate impact. 

 Metoděj Jílek (CZE) posing with ISU President Jae Youl Kim at the 2026 ISU Speed Skating Awards Ceremony in Heerenveen, Netherlands. © ISU

Jílek’s breakthrough season has been nothing short of extraordinary. In October, he set a world record in the 3000m in Salt Lake City, before making history by becoming the first male Speed Skater from Czechia to win an Olympic title, claiming gold in the 10,000m.  At just 19 years old, his victory also made him the youngest Olympic Speed Skating Champion since 1984, and the youngest Olympic Champion in Czechia’s history across both the Summer and Winter Games. 

Jílek’s rise has also been supported through the ISU development pathway. In 2023, he was awarded an ISU Junior Scholarship, a program that provides financial support to promising young skaters to advance their careers through funding for training, equipment and travel. 

"It's the result of years of training and hard work, not just this season, not just this summer, but throughout my whole life,” Jílek said after claiming the 10,000m Olympic title. “I know that I can still improve. I know that I can still increase my training volume, and have room for growth. So in a way it just came naturally, but also, it reflects the work that I've been doing and the sacrifices I’ve made for this sport, basically my whole life.”

Most Season Wins

As the title suggests, this Award went to the most prolific athletes on the ice throughout a whirlwind 2025/26 season that included five World Cups, the Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026, and of course the ISU Speed Skating World Championships.

• Woman: Femke Kok (NED)
• Man: Jordan Stolz (USA)

 Jordan Stolz (USA) posing with ISU President Jae Youl Kim at the 2026 ISU Speed Skating Awards Ceremony in Heerenveen, Netherlands. © ISU

World Record breakers – 2025/26 Season 

Several athletes, who etched their names into the record books during this season were also honored during the ceremony, including: 

• Men 3000m: Metoděj Jílek (CZE) – 3:32.42, Salt Lake City, 26 Oct 2025
• Men 5000m: Timothy Loubineaud (FRA) – 6:00.23, Salt Lake City, 14 Nov 2025
• Men 5000m: Sander Eitrem (NOR) – 5:58.52, Inzell, 24 Jan 2026
• Men Team Pursuit: USA (Ethan Cepuran, Casey Dawson, Emery Lehman) – 3:32.49, Salt Lake City, 16 Nov 2025 
• Women 500m: Femke Kok (NED) – 36.09, Salt Lake City, 16 Nov 2025
• Mixed Relay: Netherlands (Chloe Hoogendoorn, Wesly Dijs) – 2:54.05, Calgary, 23 Nov 2025 
• Sprint Combination: Jenning de Boo (NED) - 134.670 points, Heerenveen, 5-6 Mar 2026

From left to right: Metoděj Jílek (CZE), Sander Eitrem (NOR) and Timothy Loubineaud (FRA) posing with ISU President Jae Youl Kim at the 2026 ISU Speed Skating Awards Ceremony in Heerenveen, Netherlands. © ISU

World Champions

The newly crowned Champions from the ISU Speed Skating World Championships 2026 in Heerenveen were also presented with awards during the ISU Speed Skating Awards ceremony:

• Men’s Sprint – Jenning de Boo (NED)
• Women’s Sprint – Femke Kok (NED)
• Men’s Allround – Sander Eitrem (NOR) 
• Women’s Allround – Ragne Wiklund (NOR)

Jenning De Boo and Femke Kok (NED), winners of the Overall Sprint Championship title, at the medal ceremony of the ISU World Speed Skating Allround and Sprint Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands. © ISU

Sander Eitrem and Ragne Wiklund (NOR) , winners of the Allround Championship title, at the medal ceremony of the ISU World Speed Skating Allround and Sprint Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands. © ISU