Stolz youngest ever speed skating world champion as Dutch women disqualified

Jordan Stolz became the youngest ever speed skating world champion after winning the 500m by a record margin in Heerenveen. The 18-year-old American came home in 34.10 seconds, over three tenths faster than defending champion Laurent Dubeuil of Canada. The Netherlands' Femke Kok was the previous youngest gold medal winner, taking the team sprint title at 19-years-old, while 16-time distance title holder and Czech skater Martina Sablikova was also 19 when she claimed her first gold.

Japan's Wataru Morishige pipped compatriot Yuma Murakami to bronze with just 0.03 seconds separating the pair. In the women's 500m event, Kok snatched her first individual world distance gold by five hundredths of a second, finishing ahead of Austrian Vanessa Herzog and fellow Dutchwoman Jutta Leerdam. There was drama in the women's team pursuit, as the Dutch trio of Joy Beune, Irene Schouten and Marijke Groenewoud were disqualified despite finishing 1.92 seconds faster than eventual winners Canada.

Isabelle Weidemann, Ivanie Blondin and Valerie Maltais were awarded gold after one member of the home favourites' team was found to be exposing her ankle. Speed skating rules mandate that all athletes be completely covered due to safety concerns. Consequently, Japan were given silver and the USA were elevated onto the podium.

But shortly after the crowd inside Heerenveen's Thialf could celebrate a men's team pursuit gold, after Patrick Roest, Beau Snellink and Marcel Bosker narrowly beat their Canadian counterparts. The gap from first and second stood at just 0.17 seconds, while Norway were slightly further off the pace but managed bronze as they came home 2.67 seconds behind the Netherlands. Sportsbeat 2023 Ad Speed SkatingCanada take pair of team