Recap of the 2015 Worlds of Speed Skating

Top-5 and Report

Number of decorated countries

This is an interesting first point, there is a bigger number of participating countries in 2015 (33 in 2014 vs 41 this year) but the same number of decorated countries as last year. This means that a smaller proportion of countries got medals this year, compared to Rosario 2014.

1st — Colombia winning more that half of the world titles

Colombia has been the leader in the medal ranking for years. Its national team dominates the worlds, just like Italy in artistic skating. This year, Colombia won 2 more medals, but -most importantly- 5 more titles! Which is nearly a third of the total medals and over 54% of the titles! Amongst the medal getters for Colombia: Luz Karime Garzon (junior women’s), Andres Jimenez, Johana Viveros, Juan Sebastian Sanz, Juan Perez, Geiny Pajaro, Jaime Uribe, Alvaro Carrasquilla, Yersi Puello, Edwin Estrada… The list goes on!

2nd — South Korea’s comeback

After getting 8th place in the 2014 general medal ranking, South Korea made a strong come back in Kaohsiung, taking 2nd place from France. Korea won 7 titles in Kaohsiung (against only 1 title in Rosario), including the junior and senior men’s titles in relay and the junior women’s on track. Yewoon Choi also won the 1000 m junior women’s and Yu Ga Ram the 10 km point race on road.

3rd — France comfortably sitting on the podium

After historical results in 2014 (the best in 10 years), France finishes 3rd in the world championships. The Alexis Contin / Ewen Fernandez pair remains the best medal getter of the French. Elton de Souza took 3rd place in the marathon for the second time (he also finished 2nd in the track relay with Contin and Fernandez).

In the Junior category, Quentin Giraudeau faced tougher opponents.

In the women’s, efforts finally paid off for Clémence Halbout who got her first world silver medal, in a pouring rain.

4th — Italy, steady

One medal behind its result from last year, Italy keeps its 4th place in the world ranking. Despite missing stars like Francesca Lollobrigida or Erika Zanetti, the Squadra Azzurra could count on promising juniors like Daniel Niero, Giulia Bongiorno, Ricardo Passarotto…

5th — Venezuela

With 2 titles and 9 medals, Venezuela assert themselves a bit more each year. Sebastian Paredes showed up, especially in taking 3rd place in the junior men’s 1000 m. Jhoan Guzman also did the job in the relay and in the 500 m on track where he got 2nd place.

Special mention — Chinese Taipei, more medals but less titles

With ‘their’ worlds at home, Chinese Taipei won 19 medals against 10 in 2014. Yet, they finished 7th in the general ranking, while they were 3rd in Rosario 2014. The locals won only one title in 2015, against 5 last year. Despite less success, they still did a great feat with 8 silver medals (YangHo-Chen, Chang Yu-Hsin, Chuang Shao-Chun…) and 12 bronze medals, including those of LiuYi-Hsuan, Tai Wei-Lin, Lee Yu-Sheng…

The rising nations

Chile doing it again

Chile renewed their 2014 results thanks to Maria Jose Moya who stepped on the podium of the 100 m.

The USA: A renewal?

The USA made a shy comeback in the ranking thanks to a few silver medals, won by Erin Jackson on the 100 m and by Francesca Bell on 1000 m. The American women seem to be the future of speed skating in the USA.

Dominican Republic: The feat of Mauricio Darcia

One may think that the gap is still widening between the nations and yet new decorated countries enter the list, like the Dominican Republic, with a first medal won by Mauricio Garcia.

Switzerland stepping on a podium

Switzerland hadn’t got a single medal in 2014, Lokas Lida seized the silver this year.

Ecuador

This Central America country had won only one bronze medal in Rosario, its national team brought back the complete collection this year (gold, silver and bronze), with a title for Jorge Bolanos in the 10 km point race.

Receding nations

Germany: 6th in 2014 and 12th in 2015

The Germans had their best athletes taking a step back compared to 2014. Simon Albrecht was less sharp, just like Felix Rijhnen who finished 4th several time. Mareike Thum got bronze on the 1000 m.

Belgium, 6th without Bart Swings

Belgium went from 4th to 6th in the general ranking, with Bart Swings missing. Nonetheless, they could count on the energetic Sandrine Tas or even Stien Vanhoutte.

The Netherlands: 7th in 2014 and 9th ex-aequo in 2015

The Nethelanders collected only one medal thanks to Chris Huizinga. The absence of skaters like the Mulder brothers or Manon Kamminga certainly influenced the outcome.

Spain: Ioseba Fernandez saving the face

Ioseba Fernandez must have felt lonely this year in the worlds of speed skating without Paxti Peula or Sheila Posada Guerra. Ioseba managed to seize the Bronze in the 100m. Spain fell from 10th to 15th in the rankings.

What about 2016?

The 2016 speed skating worlds will happen in Nankin (China). It is very likely that we will find the same nations on the start line. China will probably want to do better than the last 2 years and could surprise us.

Comparative medal rankings of 2014 and 2015

           2014 World Championships

Pos.	Nation					Total
01		COL	21	14	8	43
02		FRA	7	5	9	21
03		TPE	5	2	3	10
04		BEL	3	2	2	7
05		ITA	2	4	5	11
06		GER	2	2	2	6
07		NED	2	0	1	3
08		KOR	1	5	9	11
09		VEN	1	3	4	8
10		ESP	1	2	1	4
11		NZL	1	2	0	3
12		CHL	1	0	0	1
13		ARG	0	5	2	7
14		USA	0	1	1	2
15		ECU	0	0	1	1
15		CHN	0	0	1	1
15		POR	0	0	1	1

   2015 World Championships

Pos.		Nation								Total
	01		COL		26		11		8		45
	02		KOR		7		6		10		23
	03		FRA		4		8		3		12
	04		ITA		3		3		4		10
	05		VEN		2		5		2		6
	06		BEL		2		0		2		4
	07		TPE		1		8		12		19
	08		ECU		1		1		1		3
	09		CHL		1		0		0		1
	09		NED		1		0		0		1
	11		USA		0		3		1		4
	12		GER		0		1		3		4
	13		SUI		0		1		0		1
	13		DOM		0		1		0		1
	15		ESP		0		0		1		1
	15		CHN		0		0		1		1
	15		ARG		0		0		1		1

Useful links

All photos of the 2015 Worlds of Speed Skating

Visit our page on the 2015 Worlds of Speed Skating

2014 Medal Report

By Lonesomesoul
Translation: Chloe Seyres
Photos : Kevin Lesueur and Christophe Pierredon
mediaskates.com