#SpeedSkating

While Germany failed to win any silverware in the two senior ISU World Cup events in Nagano and Beijing, the future looks brighter for German speed skating. Finn Sonnekalb (GER) won two individual gold medals and a bronze, adding a Team Pursuit silver to his tally at the first ISU Junior World Cup in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland, on the weekend. Germany also dominated the Neo-Seniors category, leading the medal table with five golds and 12 medals in total.

Japan leads Juniors medal table

Finn Sonnekalb, pictured above, won both the 1000m and the 1500m while also taking bronze in the 500m in Tomaszów Mazowiecki. In the Team Pursuit, the triple Youth Olympic Champion anchored teammates Tomy Nguyen and Luca Matteo Stibenz to silver behind Japan’s Taiga Sasaki, Yuta Fuchigami and Taiki Shingai (JPN).

Japan led the Juniors medal table in Poland with five gold medals, three silvers and four bronzes. Ayano Sekiguchi (JPN) led the medal haul with gold in the 1500m and the 3000m and silver in the Mass Start.

Ayano Sekiguchi (JPN) led the individual medal haul in Tomaszów Mazowiecki with gold in the 1500m and 3000m and silver in the Mass Start © ISU

Hosts Poland came away with two gold medals, three silvers and three bronze to finish second in the Junior medal table, Hanna Mazur (POL) seizing the two golds in the 1000m and the Mass Start.

Hanna Mazur (POL) was the hero for the hosts, winning gold in the 1000m and the Mass Start to lift Poland to second in the final medal table © ISU

The Netherlands came third with two golds, two silvers and two bronzes. Mats Bendijk (NED) won the men’s 3000m and the Dutch girls grabbed gold in the Team Pursuit.

Ehseluns anchors Germany in Neo-Seniors

Marlen Ehseluns (GER) led the German medal haul in the Neo-Seniors category. The 21-year-old won the 1500m and the Mass Start, and also picked up bronze in the 500m. Her compatriot Gabriel Groß (GER) won the Mass Start and the 3000m, and also seized bronze in the 1500m, while Germany also won the women’s Team Pursuit.

Marlen Ehseluns (GER), pictured at this year's European Allround Championships, led Germany's successful weekend in the Neo Seniors with two golds and a bronze © ISU

Italy won four gold medals to come second in the Neo Seniors Medal table. Giorgia Aiello (ITA) won both the 500m, the 1000m, and took silver in the 1500m. Mattia Bernabè (ITA) won the men’s 500m, and Italy also won the men’s Team Pursuit. 

Manuel Ghiotto (ITA) won 3000m silver and Mass Start bronze, while his older brother Davide Ghiotto (ITA) took 5000m silver at the senior World Cup in Beijing over the weekend.