It has all come down to this weekend: at the Optisport Sportboulevard in Dordrecht, Netherlands, the destiny of the ISU Crystal Globes and the line-up of nations for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will all be confirmed between 27-30 November. 

Nerves will be jangling as those athletes who have not yet secured their nation’s ticket to the biggest show on earth in February try to get across the line.

The biggest prizes in Short Track, meanwhile, could still end up in a number of different countries.

The men’s Crystal Globe is most likely heading back to Canada. Ice Maple supreme William Dandjinou has a commanding 140-point lead at the top of the table, and only a disaster of a weekend will give second-placed Pietro Sighel of the Italian Gladiators or third-placed Ice Maple Steven Dubois the chance to capitalise.

Only a disastrous weekend can stop all-conquering Canadian Ice Maple William Dandjinou from lifting the ISU Crystal Globe in Dordrecht. © ISU

The destination of the women’s ISU Crystal Globe is less certain. It looks like a North American shoot-out between Courtney Sarault of the Canadian Ice Maples and Corinne Stoddard of the USA Eagles. 

Xandra Velzeboer of the Dutch Lions, Choi Min Jeong and Kim Gilli of the Korean White Tigers and Hanne Desmet of the Belgian Ice Bears are all upping their games, however.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Ice Maples should clinch their second successive ISU Team Crystal Globe.

There will be mini-dramas everywhere at the Odido Cup Short Track World Tour 4, though. Across the genders and distances, teams will be reaching for the calculators to see if their racers have completed the Skate to Milano.

Van ‘t Wout form gives home fans hope 

One thing has been missing from the ISU Short Track World Tour this season: an epic duel between Dandjinou and Jens van ‘t Wout of the Dutch Lions. 

Last season the pair tussled at every turn as the Canadian pipped the Dutchman to the title. 

This term, van ‘t Wout has been troubled by illness and some poor luck. And last weekend, both athletes fell in early stages, thwarting a showdown. It feels inevitable in the Dutchman’s back yard. 

Dutch Lion Jens van 't Wout turned his luck around in Gdansk with victory in the 1000m and is looking forward to battling Dandjinou on home ice. © ISU

“I think in Dordrecht it will happen,” said van ‘t Wout. “William and I both love to fight each other on the ice. The main difference this year is that he has been very consistent and I haven’t.”

The Dutch Lion is confident about his form. “Dordrecht is a fun track. I always feel good there, and I think it should be faster than in Gdansk. I’ll get my blades optimised, eat well, I’m ready to race again.

“I’ve said before that I’ve had my best summer of training ever, I feel great, and I feel like I can be the best finisher.”

Dandjinou, with 652 points, should retain the ISU Crystal Globe. In Gdansk he was on another level as he cruised to victory in the 1500m and 500m, but a fall in the rounds of the 1000m put paid to the possibility of another golden hat-trick. 

Sighel (512 points) and Dubois (492 points) have been consistent in his wake: both are now genuine three-distance skaters, and both have a track record of winning on the biggest stages.

Elsewhere, Sun Long of the Chinese Loongs, fourth overall, has impressed with his dynamic showings, while his teammate Liu Shaoang is gradually looking more like the world-conquering 2022 model of himself. 

Rim Jongun of the Korean White Tigers and Thomas Nadalini of the Italian Gladiators have been the season’s breakthrough stars. Rim provided fireworks in Montreal and is a skater in the classic Korean mould. Nadalini is a powerhouse who – like Dandjinou – belies his size to skate with compact precision.

Miyata Shogo of the Japanese Ninjas and Roberts Kruzbergs of the Latvian Gold Stars are also on form.

Sarault and Stoddard battle it out

The women’s ISU Crystal Globe battle has been a much closer-run affair, and a battle royale awaits in Dordrecht.

Sarault has grabbed the headlines, winning three gold medals in Montreal to announce her return to form in style. She has 700 points.

The consistent Stoddard, on 620 points, has been metronomic in making A final after A final, and usually getting on the podium. 

Both are now true three-distance skaters – Sarault has added the 500m to her repertoire, while Stoddard gained her best-ever 500m finish, a silver, in Gdansk.

Corinne Stoddard (center) leads Courtney Sarault (left) in the 1000m in Gdansk, but the USA Eagle trails the Canadian in the race for the ISU Crystal Globe. © ISU

Xandra Velzeboer of the Dutch Lions is third in the standings, with 544 points, and has made the 500m her own once again.

World Champion and World record holder over the distance, she’s won three out of three 500m STWT golds 2025/26 and is as sure a bet as you can get in Short Track to complete the season undefeated. 

She is also a perennial contender in the 1000m; only her lack of results in the 1500m disadvantage her Globe hopes.

Choi Minjeong of the Korean White Tigers lies fourth in the rankings and is looking for steady improvement as she builds up to her attempt to take individual gold at a third consecutive Olympic Games. 

“I feel like I am getting better with each race, more and more prepared for the Olympics,” said Choi. 

“I’m looking forward to racing in front of the great Dutch fans. They always make a noise. I want to get through the weekend fit and with no injuries.”

Choi Minjeong of the Korean White Tigers lies fourth in the rankings but is steadily improving with the Milano Cortina Olympic Games on the horizon. © ISU

Kim Gilli of the Korean White Tigers and Hanne Desmet of the Belgian Ice Bears are also on an upward curve. The pair registered their first victories of the season last weekend in Gdansk – Desmet in the 1000m and Kim in the 1500m. 

Desperate for an improved showing will be ISU Crystal Globe holder Kristen Santos-Griswold of the USA Eagles. The American has not hit top gear yet this winter – but the resurgence of Desmet and Kim shows that it could suddenly come right in the Netherlands.

Milano Cortina 2026 places on the line 

Lower down the order, it’s crunch time for those skaters trying to get to the Olympic Games. Skaters from France, Kazakhstan, Türkiye, Latvia, Great Britain, Poland, Slovenia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Czechia, Norway, Ireland, Hungary and more are all looking to clinch places, and the chance to tell people for the rest of their lives “I am an Olympian”. 

Theo Collins of the British Royals is one of those whose ticket to Milano hangs in the balance. 

Theo Collins of the British Royals is one of many skaters hoping to earn a place at the Olympics with a strong showing in Dordrecht. © ISU

“I haven’t really looked at the standings too much, and that is deliberate – I feel like there is no point worrying about what do I need, what can I do,” said Collins. 

“The plan is to step on the ice and do the best as I can. Whatever the outcome is, I’ve got to accept that. 

“If I can step off the ice this week and know I’ve left everything I have out there, I can be proud. But you might need a little bit of luck sprinkled in there. 

“If it pans out, I’ll be pretty happy. Getting to the Olympics would mean all the hard work I’ve put in over four years has been worth it.”