Team of the Netherlands' Patrick Roest (front) competes during the men's team pursuit at the ISU World Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen, the Netherlands, March 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
American Jordan Stolz and Dutch Femke Kok claimed victory in the 500-meter sprints at the 2023 ISU World Speed Skating Championships, while the Netherlands and Canada won the men's and women's team pursuit.
THE HAGUE, March 3 (Xinhua) -- American Jordan Stolz and Dutch favorite Femke Kok captured the titles in the 500-meter sprints at the 2023 ISU World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen, the Netherlands, on Friday.
The 18-year-old Stolz beat the field with 34.10 seconds to become the youngest-ever senior world champion. World Cup winner Laurent Dubreuil from Canada had to settle for silver with 34.46 and Wataru Morishige from Japan took the bronze in 34.48.
The 22-year-old Kok became the first-ever Dutch woman to take the world champion in 500m. With her time of 37.28, she stayed ahead of Vanessa Herzog from Austria (37.33) and compatriot Jutta Leerdam (37.54).
The Dutch women were unlucky in the team pursuit as they were disqualified because a part of Joy Beune's ankle was visible during the race. Canada won the gold medal, Japan grabbed silver, the United States finished third and China had to settle for fourth place.
In the men's team pursuit, the Dutch delighted the home crowd in the Thialf stadium by retaining their world title, but Marcel Bosker, Beau Snellink and Patrick Roest had to go deep to beat Canada by just 0.17 seconds. Olympic champions Norway took the bronze medal.
