William Dandjinou of the Canadian Ice Maples continued his remarkable 2025/26 Short Track World Tour season in Gdansk, Poland, on Saturday, seizing double gold in the 1500m and 500m.

The Canadian is currently in a class of his own. Dandjinou has won the last seven finals he has lined up in, having taken all five gold medals available in Montreal at World Tour #2 (500m,1000m, 1500m, relay and mixed relay), and he looks unassailable in the battle for this term’s ISU Crystal Globe.

Thomas Nadalini, however, also deserves some time in the limelight. The Italian Gladiator produced a statement performance in Gdansk, securing silver in the 1500m, his first individual podium in senior ISU racing.

Nadalini, 23, has been one to watch for a while, and the powerful Italian went head-to-head with Dandjinou impressively here.

Dandjinou and Nadalini duel in 1500m

The 1500m was textbook stuff from Dandjinou, who adapted well to a difficult ice surface that was producing a high number of falls and crashes. 

He allowed Nadalini and Roberts Kruzbergs of the Latvian Gold Stars to set the pace, before slipping to the front with four laps left, overtaking the Italian smoothly.

Dandjinou then cranked the velocity up to a level that the rest of the field couldn’t quite cope with. Nadalini came closest, putting in a strong challenge and overtaking the Latvian with two laps to go, but he couldn’t catch the Crystal Globe holder. 

Pietro Sighel of the Italian Gladiators made a late charge to take third. 

William Dandjinou beats Italians Thomas Nadalini (left) and Pietro Sighel (obscured) to the 1500m finish line to pick up his sixth successive Short Track World Tour final win. © ISU

“I definitely tried to adapt the way I skated, according to the ice,” said Dandjinou. "It worked well, but the ice was a little bit better than yesterday, so I can’t flatter myself too much for that."

He was wary of Nadalini. “To me, Thomas has always been a threat. I study the sport and I have seen him come up. I’m not surprised with the results he’s had and I’m sure we will see more of him. 

“He’s a great guy, we have been friends since juniors, so I am very happy for him and very proud too.” 

The Trento-born racer savoured his silver moment. “I was chasing this medal for a long time. I felt like I could play with the top skaters,” he said. 

“People kept saying that this ice was going to be harder for me, as a heavy skater, but I didn’t put that in my mind. I’m not going to lose 10 kilos in a night, so I had to adapt.

“I was feeling good. I was chasing Will and I thought, ‘I’ve got him’, but he is the best right now. I couldn’t quite bring the gold.

“Today the difference was that Will played it smarter. He went in front at the right moment and I lost time going past Kruzbergs. I felt like I was there in terms of condition. The small detail was tactical.” 

Nadalini feels like he is in the best shape of his life. 

“I knew to be strong this year, I had to suffer the whole summer. It was so hard. It was all about surviving, day by day,” he admitted. 

“In July I stopped looking at the programme, I didn’t want to know what was next. A lot of sacrifice, and I knew I wasn’t meant to feel good, but I trusted the process.”

Nadalini (left) celebrates his first senior podium placing, fellow Italian Gladiator Sighel (right) taking bronze. Both are finding form ahead of their home Olympic Games. © ISU

The Italy team has been laser-focused on this season, which ends with the rare privilege of a home Olympics. 

“The good part is we are a young team, but we are like old friends,” said Nadalini. 

“We are growing together as athletes and individuals. We push each other in a positive way. We are not jealous of each other. If Pietro wins a medal, I don’t think ‘it should be me’. I think ‘I’ve got to be like him and learn from him’.”

Sighel returned his compatriot’s sentiments. "He's really good, he's really strong. This race he showed what he can do. He is going to be a real [medal] threat.

“I did a podium with my teammate, his first podium and it's a good job."

Dandjinou sweeps to 500m glory

Dandjinou was just as impressive in the 500m. Leading from the front always seemed the sensible option in the sprint on this ice, and he got to the first corner in pole position.

Nadalini was also in the thick of the action again, but got pushed wide and finished outside the medals. Lin Xiaojun of the Chinese Loongs capitalised and pursued the Canadian, but couldn’t reel him in. Steven Dubois of the Canadian Ice Maples, improving in his favourite discipline, was third.

Dandjinou led from the front to secure a magnificent seven in the 500m, Lin Xiaojun of the Chinese Loongs pursuing the Canadian for silver. © ISU

“I’m feeling good, there’s still a lot to do tomorrow,” said Dandjinou of his second gold. 

“We have the Mixed Relay and the 1000m. But for sure it’s a relief, especially considering how the ice is. I’m very happy I didn’t get injuries or falls, and I was happy I was able to perform.”

He wasn’t getting excited about his winning streak. 

“I’ve lost more finals than I’ve won, I can assure you of that. But yeah it’s an amazing feeling. I’m in a good position right now. I didn’t do everything perfectly, so I have a lot to work on before the Games.” 

Lin, the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic gold medallist in the 1500m, was happy with a return to the podium. 

“It has been a long time so I’d like to say thank you to all the team mates and coaches in China,” he said. “I’m satisfied. I will go up step by step until the Olympics.”

Dubois was also content. “It was hard, the ice is causing some trouble. It’s a challenge, but we don’t know what ice we are going to get at the Games,” he said.

“I’ve been struggling a bit with my equipment and injury on the first two World Tours, but I’ve been finding my groove a bit more here and I’ve got some confidence. I did some good passes, and I think I can do some pretty great things next week.”

Dandjinou's Ice Maples teammate Steven Dubois (right) found his groove in his favourite discipline to take bronze. © ISU

Dandjinou may be taking the plaudits at the moment, but Dubois – who is reigning World Champion in the 500m and 1000m – knows that on big days, anything can happen.

With a big smile on his face as he considers his great friend and currently unbeatable teammate, he gave hope to the rest of the Men's Short Track pack that Dandjinou is indeed mortal. 

“I think so yeah, William has his strengths but also a couple of weaknesses we can exploit. No one is perfect in this game, he’s the best right now, but everyone is beatable. We will just keep picking at him, and we get there sometimes.”

The action continues on Sunday at the Hala Olivia, Gdansk, with the men’s 1000m and 5000m relay.