Mia Manganello of the United States secured her first World Cup Trophy in the Mass Start event during the final World Cup competition of her career, held in Inzell, Germany.
According to ISU Skating, the 36-year-old athlete maintained her lead in the overall World Cup standings by finishing third in the last race, narrowly ahead of Ivanie Blondin from Canada. Manganello’s performance ensured she stayed one point ahead of Dutch skater Marijke Groenewoud, who won the final Mass Start race.
The women’s Mass Start event concluded with Groenewoud dominating the final sprint and securing the gold medal. Behind her, Canada’s Valérie Maltais took silver, while Manganello claimed bronze after a tight finish. Initially uncertain of her standing, Manganello was relieved to confirm that her third-place finish was sufficient to win the overall World Cup trophy.
Manganello reflected on her season, describing it as a dream to have achieved such results and acknowledging the nerves of leading going into the final race. She had planned for this season to be her last as a professional speed skater but left open the possibility of reconsidering following her success. She also noted the challenges for female athletes balancing career and family life.
In the 500-meter races, Kaja Ziomek-Nogal of Poland won her first gold medal of the season, while Femke Kok from the Netherlands, who had already secured the 500m World Cup Trophy earlier in the weekend, did not compete in the final race. German skater Sophie Warmuth earned her first career podium with a silver medal, boosting her confidence ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games. Marrit Fledderus of the Netherlands finished third, marking her third podium placement of the season.
The Dutch team also won the Team Sprint event at the Max Aicher Arena, setting a track record and capturing the World Cup Trophy with a time of 1 minute and 25.52 seconds. Their teammates Isabel Grevelt, Naomi Verkerk, and Fledderus contributed to this achievement. Canada and Germany finished second and third respectively in the event.
