Ragne Wiklund won the women’s Allround title at the ISU Speed Skating World Championships in Heerenveen, marking Norway’s first victory in this category since 1938.
ISU.org, the official website of the International Skating Union, reported on the event held in the Netherlands.
Wiklund, a 25-year-old skater from Oslo, delivered strong performances throughout the competition and secured the gold medal in the final 5000m race. She overcame a 1.17-second deficit to Japanese skater Miho Takagi, who was leading after the first three distances. Marijke Groenewoud of the Netherlands also surpassed Takagi to claim the silver medal. Takagi, who has announced her retirement, earned bronze in her final competition.
In the 1500m race, Takagi aimed to build a lead over Wiklund to protect her position. She started quickly, establishing a lead at the early splits, but Wiklund steadily closed the gap. Takagi finished with a time of 1 minute and 53.48 seconds, only 0.35 seconds ahead of Wiklund, setting a narrow margin for the final race.
Wiklund expressed confidence ahead of the 5000m event, despite describing it as a challenging race. She managed consistent lap times, ultimately finishing faster than Groenewoud’s time and securing the overall championship. Wiklund reflected on the significance of her victory for Norwegian speed skating, noting the sport’s strong traditions in her country and the enthusiasm of its dedicated fans.
Takagi’s bronze medal marked the conclusion of a distinguished career, including multiple world and Olympic titles. After the race, she received a standing ovation from the crowd in Thialf arena and spoke about the special emotions involved in her final competitive appearance.
Groenewoud’s recovery after a disappointing 500m race was notable, as she delivered strong performances in subsequent distances to claim silver. She aimed to challenge Wiklund in the final race but acknowledged the Norwegian’s consistent performance was difficult to surpass.
The championships also saw a significant achievement for Norwegian men’s speed skating, with Sander Eitrem winning the men’s Allround title. This marked the first world title for a Norwegian man since 1994, underscoring a period of success for Norway in the sport.
