#SpeedSkating

As the world Speed Skating elite compete at the second ISU World Cup event in Beijing this weekend, the aspiring youth begin their international season at the ISU Junior World Cup in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland. A new generation of youngsters is ready to follow the footsteps of those who moved on to senior level at the end of last season. 

Angel lights the way ahead on senior World Cup debut

Last year’s five-time Junior World Champion Angel Daleman (NED) still qualifies as a junior but will skate at the senior World Cup in Beijing this weekend. She’s wasting no time making her mark on the senior sport - last week in Nagano, the 17-year-old Dutch prodigy finished fourth in the 1000m at the first leg of the ISU World Cup series.

Five-time Junior World Champion Angel Daleman (NED) has joined the senior ranks aged 17: this weekend's junior skaters will be hoping to follow in her blade tracks to next year's senior World Cup © ISU

Reigning 3000m Junior World Champion Sigurd Henriksen (NOR) and last year’s 500m and 1000m Junior World Champion Kyung-Min Koo (KOR) have also moved onto the senior World Cup circuit this season, as did Didrik Eng Strand (NOR), who grabbed 1500m gold and the Junior World Allround title last year in Hachinohe City.

Sonnekalb plans to add Junior gold to Youth Olympic haul

One leading junior who has yet to join the senior ranks and who will be in Tomaszów Mazowiecki is Finn Sonnekalb (GER). 

The 17-year-old German won three Youth Olympic titles in Gangneung, Korea, last year, lifted the 1500m Junior World Cup trophy last season and came second behind Strand in the Junior World Allround championships. 

Finn Sonnekalb (GER) plans to add Junior World Cup gold to his three Youth Olympic titles and may skate up to five events in Poland in pursuit of that goal © ISU

This season the German prodigy hopes to be in contention for more silverware. At the first Junior World Cup in Tomaszów Mazowiecki he will skate the 500m, 1000m, 1500m and Team Pursuit events, and is also on the entry list as a substitute for the 3000m.

International field

In Tomaszów Mazowiecki, a total of 152 skaters from 26 nations will compete in the Junior World Cup. Host nation Poland has the biggest delegation, entering a total of 15 juniors in the competition. Korea also has a big squad with 14 participants.

Junior World Cup Program

The 2024-25 ISU Junior World Cup comprises three events. The first two events are 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.

At the first event in Tomaszów Mazowiecki this weekend, the men and women will skate the 1000m, the 3000m and the Team Pursuit on Saturday, followed by the 500m, the 1500m and the Mass Start on Sunday.

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.