final showdown in heerenveen as skating stars chase glory and cash
Heerenveen, donderdag, 5 maart 2026.
the olympic speed skating season ends in heerenveen with the world championships allround and sprint. top names like femke kok, joy beune and jordan stolz compete for global titles and prize money. the event draws thousands to thialf and marks a farewell for veteran martina sablikova. stolz aims for a rare double, chasing both sprint and allround crowns in one year—a feat only matched historically by legends like eric heiden. the stakes are high, the ice fast, and every second counts.
final showdown in heerenveen as skating stars chase glory and cash
The Olympic speed skating season concludes in Heerenveen with the World Championships Allround and Sprint. Top athletes including Femke Kok, Joy Beune, and Jordan Stolz compete for global titles and significant prize money. Thousands attend the event at Thialf, marking a symbolic farewell for Czech veteran Martina Sablikova [1]. Stolz aims for a historic achievement—winning both sprint and allround world titles in one season, a feat previously accomplished only by legends like Eric Heiden and Shani Davis under different formats [1][4]. The stakes are exceptionally high as skaters push for final accolades.
sprint spotlight on femke kok and international rivals
On Thursday and Friday, the focus turns to the sprint competition featuring two distances: 500 meters and 1,000 meters, raced twice. Dutch favorite Femke Kok leads the charge after winning Olympic gold in the 500 meters and silver in the 1,000 meters during the recent Winter Games [4]. She faces strong opposition from American Erin Jackson and Polish contender Kaja Ziomek-Nogal [1]. On the men’s side, Jordan Stolz seeks redemption by claiming his first official sprint crown despite being Olympic champion over both distances [1][4]. His main challengers include compatriot Jenning de Boo and young Dutch hope Joep Wennemars [1].
allround endurance tests depth across four distances
The allround championship spans Saturday and Sunday, combining results from the 500m, 3,000m (women), 5,000m (men), 1,500m, and either the 5,000m (women) or 10,000m (men) [4]. Defending women’s champion Joy Beune returns alongside her Dutch teammates Marijke Groenewoud and Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong, who finished second and third respectively in 2024 [1][4]. Italian Francesca Lollobrigida and Canadian Valerie Maltais also enter as medal threats [1]. For the men, Norwegian Sander Eitrem brings momentum following his Olympic 5,000-meter victory but remains cautious due to lingering illness post-Olympics [1][4].
historic ambitions and financial incentives collide
Jordan Stolz attempts a rare dual triumph by capturing both sprint and allround world titles in the same season—an accomplishment achieved solely by Eric Heiden and Shani Davis in history, though not within the compressed modern schedule [1]. Winning either title carries substantial monetary rewards. The overall winner of the allround event receives $22,000 USD (approximately €18,800), making it the most lucrative purse in long track speed skating awarded by the International Skating Union [5]. Sprint champions earn $13,000 USD (around €11,000) [5]. These figures have remained unchanged for ten years, prompting criticism among elite skaters regarding compensation fairness [5].
farewell to sablikova amid sustainability efforts at thialf
Martina Sablikova, five-time world allround champion and Olympic medalist, officially retires from competitive skating after these championships [1][4]. Her departure closes a storied career impacted recently by illness that hindered performance at the Milan Olympics where she placed eleventh in the 5,000 meters [1]. Meanwhile, Thialf continues its leadership in sustainable venue operations. Following renovations in 2014, energy consumption dropped by roughly half compared to early 2000s levels [6]. Initiatives such as solar panels, heat-cold storage systems, and optimized ice thickness contribute to environmental goals while hosting major events [6]. Experts suggest further reductions may come through refining ice layer specifications currently thicker than technically necessary [6].
team changes and coaching shifts signal new directions
Beyond athletic competition, organizational transitions mark this period. German sprinter Felix Maly withdraws from the allround event in solidarity with teammate Fridtjof Petzold, who was removed from national selection after publicly criticizing structural issues within the German federation [7]. Simultaneously, Jeremy Wotherspoon departs the Norwegian skating program after a decade-long tenure focused on technical development and athlete growth [7]. The 48-year-old former Canadian sprint star moves into a NextGen coaching role with his home country’s long track team [7]. Norway now evaluates its coaching framework ahead of the next Olympic cycle amidst broader reflection on support structures essential for elite success [7].