#SpeedSkating

With four of its skaters winning gold, the Republic of Korea dominated the second round of the ISU Junior World Cup in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland, last weekend. Jeannine Rosner (AUT) topped the individual medal table with two golds and a silver. Italy finished on top in the Neo-Seniors competition, winning three golds and a silver, while Spain came second with three golds, a silver and a bronze. 

Prolific second day for Korea 

While Jeannine Rosner (AUT) took gold in the 3000m and silver in the 1000m on Saturday at the Arena Lodowa, Tomaszów Mazowiecki (POL), the Korean medal haul only started when Leewon Lim (KOR) and Ko Eunwoo (KOR) won the Mixed Gender Relay to cap off the first day.

Jeannine Rosner (AUT) won gold in both the 1500m and 3000m and silver in the 1000m to give her six medals from the two weekends in Poland  © ISU

On Sunday Jung Huidan (KOR), pictured top, won the women's 500m, while Lim (women's) and Jiho Yoon (men's) took home the Mass Start victories.

Germany’s Finn Sonnekalb (GER) won the men’s 1000m on Saturday and the 1500m on Sunday, repeating his victories from the first round of the competition. 

Rosner added 1500m gold on Sunday, and leads in both the 3000m and the 1500m World Cup ranking. She’s also second in the 1000m ranking, with Hanna Mazur (POL) on top. The 16-year-old from Poland seized back-to-back victories in the distance on home ice.

Mats Bendijk (NED) leads the men’s 3000m ranking after winning twice in Poland. The Dutchman also sits in second place in the 1500m ranking after taking two silver medals behind Sonnekalb.

Mats Bendijk (NED) completed back-to-back 3000m victories and added a second silver in the 1500m behind Finn Sonnekalb (GER) © ISU

Niels de Kruijk (NED) won the 500m and surpassed Fuga Tsujimoto (JPN) on top of the ranking. After being on top of medal table last week, Japan skipped the second Junior World Cup in Tomaszów Mazowiecki.

Llop Izquierdo and González back from Beijing

In the Neo-Seniors competition, Spain’s Nil Llop Izquierdo and Luisa María González returned from the senior World Cup in Beijing to pick up silverware in Tomaszów Mazowiecki. Llop Izquierdo won the men’s 1000m on Saturday before adding 500m gold on Sunday, while González took 1000m silver and 500m gold.

Luisa María González flew in from the senior World Cup in Beijing to win gold in the Neo-Seniors 500m and silver in the 1000m © ISU

Sebastian Forsmark (SWE) still leads the men’s 1000m ranking after winning last week and coming in fifth on Saturday. Mattia Bernabè (ITA) is on top of the 500m ranking, also following up last week’s gold with fifth place in the second leg.

Manuel Ghiotto (ITA) won the men’s 3000m again, and Aron Aannø (NOR) seized gold in the Mass Start. Gabriel Groß (GER) came second to retain the lead in the Mass Start ranking, with Ghiotto sitting in third place. 

With two gold medals and a bronze, Marlen Ehseluns (GER) leads the Neo-Seniors medal table. Repeating last week’s results, the German won both the 1500m and the Mass Start, but instead of last week’s 500m bronze, she finished third in the 3000m this time around. 

Marlen Ehseluns (GER) repeated her Round 1 victories in the Neo-Seniors 1500m and Mass Start, adding a bronze in the 3000m © ISU

Hanna Svenni (NOR) stayed on top of the 3000m ranking with a back-to-back win, and Giorgia Aiello (ITA) won the 500m again. The Italian also managed to retain the lead in the 1000m ranking, despite coming second to González in the second outing.

Junior World Cup Program

The 2024-25 ISU Junior World Cup comprises three events. The first two events were held in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland, on 30 November-1 December and 7-8 December, and the third and final leg will be in Collalbo, Italy, on 1-2 February 2025, with the ISU World Junior Championships following a week later at the same track.

Eligibility and neo-seniors

The ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating is a series of Junior Speed Skating events which has taken place annually since 2008. Participation in the Juniors division is open to Juniors A and B, born between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2009.

As part of the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating competitions there’s an ISU Neo Senior World Cup, with skaters competing in the same events. This gives a chance to skaters who have not yet reached World Cup level in the senior ranks to develop further internationally. Participation in the Neo-Seniors division is open to skaters born between 1 July 2001 and 30 June 2005.

For more information, see ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating