Sander Eitrem has been honored with the Oscar Mathisen Trophy following a remarkable year highlighted by a world record.
Schaatsen.nl, a Dutch sports news outlet, reported on Eitrem’s achievements and the award announcement.
The Oscar Mathisen Trophy is an annual award given to a speed skater who delivers an exceptional performance during the year. Eitrem received the award after setting a new world record in the five-kilometer race on January 24 in Inzell, clocking a time of 5:58.52. This performance is notable as it is the only five-kilometer world record set outside the high-altitude ice rinks of North America.
In addition to his record-breaking race, Eitrem had a highly successful season overall. He won Olympic gold in February and followed that with a world allround title in March. His accomplishments have marked him as one of the leading figures in speed skating this season.
This marks the sixteenth time a Norwegian skater has received the Oscar Mathisen Trophy. Eitrem succeeds fellow Norwegian Håvard Homefjord Lorentzen, who earned the award in 2018 for his Olympic 500-meter gold medal performance. Historically, Dutch skaters have received the trophy eighteen times, with Kjeld Nuis being the most recent Dutch recipient in 2019.
