At the World Sprint Speed Skating Championships held in Heerenveen, Netherlands, Dutch skaters Femke Kok, Suzanne Schulting, and Marrit Fledderus achieved a historic podium sweep, marking the first time three women from the same country shared the podium at this event.
ISU Skating, published in the Netherlands, reported on the detailed results and significance of this achievement on March 6, 2026.
Femke Kok dominated the competition by winning all four races, securing her first World Sprint title at her home rink. Kok carried a significant lead from the first day and maintained her top position through the second day. She credited her success largely to staying focused and avoiding mistakes. Kok, also an Olympic 500m Champion with a world record to her name, expressed gratitude for winning in front of the home crowd and looks forward to setting new goals following a period of rest.
Marrit Fledderus secured third place overall by delivering a strong performance in the concluding 1000m race, narrowly surpassing Poland’s Kaja Ziomek-Nogal. Despite fatigue from participating in multiple races over a short period, Fledderus maintained focus to clinch her first podium finish at an international championship. Ziomek-Nogal also expressed satisfaction with her performance, considering her limited experience in the 1000m distance this season.
Suzanne Schulting finished second, consistently placing second across all four distances. Like her teammates, she participated in a demanding schedule but maintained stable lap times and performance. Schulting acknowledged the strength of Dutch sprinting, noting that multiple Dutch athletes performed at an exceptionally high level, as evidenced by their recent Olympic medals.
The event highlighted the depth of talent in Dutch women’s speed skating and the country’s ongoing dominance in the sprint events at the international level. This achievement underscores the strong training programs and competitive spirit fostered within the Dutch skating community.
