Berlin, Jan 25 (.) Norwegian skater Sander Eitrem broke the men’s 5,000m world record at the speed skating World Cup in Inzell, Germany, winning the event in five minutes and 58.52 seconds.
Eitrem became the first speed skater to skate the distance in under six minutes, beating the previous world record of 6:00.23 set by Timothy Loubineaud of France in Salt Lake City, the United States, last November.
With the victory in Inzell, Eitrem finished third in the overall World Cup standings for the 5,000m. “It probably hasn’t fully sunk in yet,” the 23-year-old said after crossing the finish line.
“Being the first under six minutes has been a dream since I was little, so the fact that I actually am the first, it’s incredibly big.”
Czech 19-year-old Metodej Jilek placed second in 6:01.98, a result that secured him the season title in the distance. Loubineaud placed third, more than five seconds behind Eitrem.
In the men’s 1,000m, American Jordan Stolz continued his dominance, winning the final World Cup race of the season and clinching the season title with five victories from five races. He also won gold in the 1,500m event on Friday to claim the season title in that event as well.
In the women’s 1,000m, Dutch star Jutta Leerdam took the victory in 1:12.74, setting a meet record. Japan’s Miho Takagi finished second in 1:13.43, while another Dutch skater Femke Kok came third in 1:13.67.
In the women’s 3,000m, Norway’s Ragne Wiklund won in 3:54.74, with Joy Beune and Valerie Maltais finishing second and third, respectively.
The ISU Speed Skating World Cup features five stops this season, with the first four serving as qualifiers for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics will take place from February 7 to 21.
./XINHUA .