SPEED SKATING
Joy Beune (NED) claims gold, denies Wiklund the win on home ice
12 Mar 2025
Joy Beune (NED) started the 24th ISU World Single Distances Championships with gold in the women’s 3000m. The World Allround Champion kept Ragne Wiklund (NOR) at bay in an exciting head-to-head battle, with the home favorite finishing just .01 seconds outside the podium in fourth place. Martina Sáblíková (CZE) took silver, while Merel Conijn (NED) celebrated her first World Championships medal in third place. In the Team Sprint, Jutta Leerdam, Suzanne Schulting and Angel Dalemen added a second gold to the Dutch tally.
Beune relies on early power to upset Wiklund
Having secured her third consecutive World Cup Trophy with 3000m gold in Heerenveen two weeks ago, Ragne Wiklund (NOR) was favored to win the 3000m in front of an enthusiastic home crowd at the Vikingskipet in Hamar.
Martina Sáblíková (CZE) was on top of the leaderboard at 4:00.57 when Wiklund lined up at the start against Joy Beune (NED), who got off the blocks fast.
“I hoped to quickly build a margin, to force her to catch up with me,” Beune said. “I’ve got the speed so I might as well use it at the start.”
Joy Beune celebrates her victory in the Women's 3000m race Thursday at the ISU World Single Distances Championships in Hamar, Norway. © ISU
Halfway through the race, Beune was more than two seconds quicker than Sáblíková and more than a second ahead of Wiklund.
She eventually had to pay for the fast start, but when her lap times started to drop, Wiklund gave her that little push she needed. Beune explained:
“(Wiklund) came underneath (on the inner corner before the straight) and that saved my day. I had to go along (in the draft at the back-stretch). I knew that I had to give it my all and those last laps were really tough. I emptied the tank completely.”
At the finish line, Beune had a .18-second margin over Sáblíková on top of the leaderboard.
“It’s a small gap, but a win is a win,” Beune said.
Wiklund stopped the clock at 4:01.23, which left her in fourth place.
“I just didn’t have that last gear today,” she said.
“In the laps that I'm usually at my strongest, I couldn’t take as much, and I realized that a bit too early. Then I tried to fight … It was just an okay day, and at the World Championships it’s not enough. It’s sad to feel that I disappointed the home crowd, but I’ll have more chances.”
Sáblíková claims 14th 3000m medal
Both Sáblíková (CZE) and Merel Conijn (NED) were thrilled to be on the podium with Beune.
For the 37-year-old Czech veteran, who will retire after next year’s Olympic Games, it was her 14th World Championships medal in the distance (6G, 6S, 2B).
Martina Sáblíková (CZE) finished just .18 seconds behind Joy Beune (NED) on Thursday in the Women's 3000m race. © ISU
“This year, I just had two fourth places in the 3000m World Cup, so I didn’t think I was going to make it to the podium today,” Sáblíková said. “But I had a great pair-mate with Merel. We skated together and pushed each other. It was a great race.”
Conijn raises awareness for War Child
It was the first career World Championship medal for Conijn, who is 14 years younger than Sáblíková.
“I’m very happy with it, and it’s a good sign for Saturday (5000m),” she said.
Merel Conijn (NED) finished third in the Women's 3000m race Thursday to record her first podium appearance at an ISU World Single Distances Championships. © ISU
The Dutch youngster said the longest women’s distance is more in her wheelhouse and the 3000m medal felt like a surprise bonus. It also helped her raise awareness of the crowdfunding campaign for War Child she set up around her skating at the World Championships.
“I could have put a sponsor logo on my suit, but I’m very happy to be able to skate with the War Child logo,” she said.
“There’s so much horror going on in the world. The beauty of sport is that it can bring nations together, and I hope I can raise awareness this way. Because I skate the 5000m, War Child put a link on Instagram mentioning a symbolic target of 5000 euros for this project.”
Dutch women confidently win Team Sprint
The Netherlands beat defending champion Canada by 1.66 seconds in the Team Sprint.
With Jutta Leerdam launching the team and Suzanne Schulting taking second-lap duty, Angel Daleman stopped the clock at a time of 1:25.57. Brooklyn McDougall, Béatrice Lamarche and Ivanie Blondin (CAN) finished second in 1:27.23, while Poland’s Karolina Bosiek, Andzelika Wójcik and Kaja Ziomek-Nogal took bronze in 1:27.80.
Netherlands won the Women's Team Sprint ahead of Canada and Poland Thursday at the ISU World Single Distances Championships. © ISU
“This is what we came for,” said Schulting, who added her first title in long track to the 10 she has won in short track.
“It was a fantastic atmosphere in the stadium, and I felt really relaxed and very strong.”
Schulting is unlikely to skate any of the individual distances in Hamar, but she’s listed as a reserve skater for the 500m and the 1000m.
Hamar program
The ISU World Single Distances Championships comprise an action-packed schedule with four days of spectacular skating. The event starts with the 3000m for women and the 5000m for men, followed by the Team Sprint for both genders on Thursday. On Friday, both genders will compete in the Team Pursuit and the 500m. The Saturday program features the 1000m for both genders, the 5000m for women and the Mass Start for men, and the championships conclude with the 1500m for both genders, the men’s 10,000m and the women’s Mass Start on Sunday.
ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series events 2024/25:
Nov 22 - 24, 2024 Nagano / JPN
Nov 29 - Dec 01, 2024 Beijing / CHN
Jan 24 - 26, 2025 Calgary CAN
Jan 31 - Feb 02, 2025 Milwaukee / USA
Feb 21 - 23, 2025 Tomaszów Mazowiecki / POL
Feb 28 - Mar 02, 2025 Heerenveen / NED
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