Sunday 16 / November / 2025
WASHINGTON: France's Timothy Loubineaud broke the men's 5,000-meter world record at the ISU Speed Skating World Cup season-opening leg in Salt Lake City on Friday with a time of 6:00.23, more than one second faster than the previous mark of 6:01.56 set by Sweden's Nils van der Poel.
"I never expected this in my life. As a French guy, we don't have any tracks in France, and I'm also not the most talented guy," Loubineaud, who transitioned from inline skating only seven years ago, told the ISU official website. "I used to see Sven Kramer, Patrick Roest, Davide Ghiotto ... those guys are way better than I am, and today I'm part of that group."
The 29-year-old said he found unexpected strength as the laps unfolded. "I started the race, and I didn't care about the time. I was just going. After a few laps, I don't know what happened, but I felt so good and I just kept improving the pace," he said.
Metodej Jilek of the Czech Republic finished second in 6:02.78 and Norway's Sander Eitrem took third in 6:03.38, both refreshing national records.
In the men's 1,000m, American skater Jordan Stolz, two-time gold medalist over the distance at the World Championships, notched a commanding win over reigning world champion Joep Wennemars of the Netherlands. Stolz clocked a winning time of 1:05.66 - 0.29 seconds behind his own record on the same track - thanks to a fastest final lap.
"It's a good one for the first World Cup of the year," Stolz said. "Physically, I think I can keep getting stronger. My endurance is good right now."
Poland's Damian Zurek was second in a personal best 1:06.02, while Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands finished third in 1:06.34. China's Ning Zhongyan came fourth in a personal best result of 1:06:47.
The women's 1,000m saw Dutch skaters Jutta Leerdam and Femke Kok renew their duel, with Leerdam edging Kok by just 0.08 seconds in 1:12.35.
Kok said she lost time in the final corner but still welcomed the battle. "It's good to be paired in the draw. When we face each other, we know it's going to raise the level," she said.
Canada's Beatrice Lamarche had her first career World Cup podium finish, sitting third in 1:12.77.
Elsewhere, world champion Joy Beune of the Netherlands rebounded from illness to post a personal best of 3:53.69 for the women's 3,000m title. Canada's Valerie Maltais claimed a silver in 3:56.53. Norway's Ragne Wiklund finished third in 3:57.19.
This season's Salt Lake City stop is one of four World Cups that double as qualification events for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games. Competitions continue Saturday with the men's and women's 500m and 1,500m golds up for grabs.
