World Distances Speed Skating Championship

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

What’s so fun about betting on World Distances Speed Skating? The dynamics. A nice pressure cooker with sprint and all-round disciplines, where the winners are immediately obvious (unlike all-round tournaments). It is one of the somewhat younger tournaments on the skating calendar. We can imagine you have some questions about this tournament. We had those, too. We are going to answer them all for you, including the most important one. What is the best way to bet on skating World Speed Skating Championships?

For past skaters, it’s actually a shame that these tournaments are still so young. The World Distance Championships have only been around since 1996. We take a closer look at the format, history and statistics of this tournament. Of course we also look at all the possibilities for betting on skating World Championship Distances.

Format – World Distances Speed Skating

In the all-round tournaments, it’s about looking at how everything works (and especially about calculating). At a competition like the World Distances Championships, it’s all about who skates each distance the fastest. In recent years, in addition to the individual distances, components such as the mass start, team pursuit, and team sprint have been added. The only pity is that nowadays the ISU often organizes tournaments once every two years. On the other hand, it does make achieved titles just a little more special.

History – World Distances Speed Skating

For history, let’s break down the parts, to keep the overview.

500 and 1000 meters men

As mentioned, the World Championship Distances was held for the first time in 1996. This fell exactly in the heyday of The Emperor, Hiroyasu Shimizu. The Japanese won the 500 meters in five of the first six tournaments. Then it was time for his eternal rival Jeremy Wotherspoon, who won three times in the early 2000s. The title went seven times to Japan, five times to South Korea, and four times to Canada and Russia (three times Pavel Kulizhnikov).

The 1000 meters was the perfect length for the Netherlands. The Dutch dominated here with seven wins, including two for Erben Wennemars, and two for Kai Verbij. The best skater individually on the kilometer is Shani Davis, with four wins (and three bronze medals). Pavel Kulizhnikov also grabbed this distance twice.

Men’s 1500 meters

The next distance, also dominated by the Dutch, is the 1500 meters. Rintje Ritsma and Ids Postma competed in the early years with 1500 specialist Ådne Søndrål from Norway, who won twice and finished second four times. Shani Davis and later Denis Joeskov were the most successful with three wins each. In the last four years, Kjeld Nuis and Thomas Krol have alternately won twice. With 9 gold, 9 silver and 9 bronze, the Netherlands is dominant at this distance.

5000 and 10,000 meters men

In the 5000 meters, the Netherlands won 16 out of 21 gold medals, and 41 out of 63 medals. Chad Hedrick was the first non-Dutch winner in 2004 and 2005. Gianni Romme (3), Bob de Jong (2) and Sven Kramer (8) provided most of the Dutch gold medals. The last three years there were non-Dutch winners again.

In the 10,000 meters its even more in favour of the Dutch – the Netherlands won the first 19 editions, and also 41 medals in total. Here again the same names as in the five kilometers. Gianni Romme won four times, Carl Verheijen twice, Bob de Jong and Sven Kramer five times, and Jorrit Bergsma three times. After those 19 Dutch wins came Graeme Fish (Canada) and Nils van der Poel (Sweden) in the past two years. Those who go to bet on the World Speed Skating Championships usually know the nationality of the top 3. Let’s face it, the most beautiful sport thrives on as much competition as possible.

Mass start, team pursuit and team sprint men

The past six World Championships included the mass start. By far the best was American Joey Mantia with three wins. In various formations, the Netherlands won 12 of the 13 times. The most common name, of course, was Sven Kramer. The first two team sprints also went to the Netherlands, the 2022 edition to Norway.

Women’s 500 and 1000 meters

On the women’s short distances, we see a lot of German success in particular. The 500 meters was won twice by Monique Garbrecht and four times in a row by Jenny Wolf. China, South Korea and Canada follow with three final wins each. Russia and Japan were often on the podium, but only twice on the top step. Nao Kodaira took care of the two Japanese victories.

In the 1000 meters the Netherlands is the best, with seven victories. Those came from as many as six different women, with only Marianne Timmer winning twice. Germany’s Anni Friesinger, Canada’s Christine Nesbitt, and America’s Brittany Bowe are individually the most successful with three wins. Monique Garbrecht also won this distance twice, as well as the 500 meters.

Women’s 1500 meters

On the skating mile, Anni Friesinger felt most at home. The good-humored German won no less than six times between 1998 and 2009. Right behind her we find our speed skating queen Ireen Wüst with five wins. With eight gold medals, Germany has just one more than the Netherlands. Annamarie Thomas and Jorien ter Mors both won the 1500 meters once.

3000 meters and 5000 meters women

Germany took all of its eight wins in the 3000 meters in the first eight tournaments. Gunda Niemann won five, Claudia Pechstein two and Anni Friesinger one. Martina Sablikova single-handedly ensures that the Czech Republic has six golds. The Dutch have five golds, including three for Ireen Wüst.

At the longest distance, Germany won eight times, five of which were Gunda Niemann. Between 2007 and 2019, there was an unprecedented run of 10 wins in a row for Sablikova. Not until 2021 did Irene Schouten provide the first ever Dutch final victory. A small round of applause may go to Claudia Pechstein, who stood on the podium 14 times.

Mass start, team pursuit and team sprint women

Of the six mass starts, the Netherlands won three, with two wins for Irene Schouten. Ivanie Blondin of Canada won twice and in 2021 Marijke Groenewoud took the title. In the team pursuit, the Netherlands was best six times with Ireen Wüst as the common thread. Canada and Japan each won three times, Germany once. The team sprint went to the Netherlands in all three editions with leading lady Jutta Leerdam.

Statistics – World Distances Speed Skating

Since 1996, 119 gold medals have been awarded. More than half of those, 65, went to the Netherlands. Another 49 silver and 36 bronze bring the total to 150 medals. The United States follows light years away with 13 gold, 6 silver and 14 bronze. Russia, Canada and Norway also stand at more than 30 medals each.

Individually, Sven Kramer stands head and shoulders above them. Kramer won gold 21 times, silver 3 times and bronze 2 times. Shani Davis is second, with 8 golds. Numbers 3 through 7 are also all Dutch: Bob de Jong, Gianni Romme, Erben Wennemars, Jorrit Bergsma and Carl Verheijen.

Women’s World Cup Distances: Germany versus the Netherlands

You probably already noticed, but among the women, Germany is particularly strong. The country is also first in the medal standings with 36 gold, 32 silver and 18 bronze. Especially Gunda Niemann, Anni Friesinger, and Claudia Pechstein provided many of those medals. Together they won 66, out of a total of 86 for Germany.

The Netherlands is clearly number two, though, with 31 gold, 35 silver and 30 bronze. Canada and the Czech Republic are far behind with 16 gold each. In the individual standings, Ireen Wüst is admittedly above all the German ladies with 15 gold, 15 silver and 1 bronze. She has to allow stayer Martina Sablikova just above her with 16 gold and 6 silver. Antoinette de Jong and Irene Schouten are on four gold medals.

Betting Markets – World Distances Speed Skating

When betting on skating, there are often a number of odds (betting markets) to choose from. We explain some of the ones you can choose.

Betting on World Distances Speed Skating – winner per distance

Four individual distances, mass start, team pursuit and team sprint. Seven parts, men and women, so fourteen chances to predict the correct winner.

Betting on World Distances Speed Skating – performance by country

The Netherlands has dominated the World Distances Championships in the men since the beginning and is second best in the women. At many bookmakers, including here at Mobile Wins, you can also bet on how certain countries perform.

Betting on World Distances Speed Skating – live betting

It is not specifically a betting market, but we like to highlight the possibility of live betting on sports such as skating. It adds an extra dimension and more excitement to following. Who knows, you may be able to capitalize on what you see directly on television.

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