Bart Swings retains mass start title on European Speed Skating Championships final day, Jenning de Boo wins 500m

BySportsbeat

Updated 07/01/2024 at 20:38 GMT

Bart Swings and Jenning de Boo were among the winners on the final day of the European Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen. Swings retained his mass start title, while De Boo became the fastest male speed skater in Europe by winning the 500m. His Dutch compatriot Femke Kok won the women's 500m race. The Netherlands won 10 of the available 14 gold medals in total.

Bart Swings of Belgium celebrates victory and winning the gold medal after he competes in the Mass Start Men race during the ISU European Speed Skating Championships at Thialf Arena on January 07, 2024 in Heerenveen, Netherlands

Image credit: Getty Images

Norway's Peter Kongshaug and Belgium's Bart Swings broke up Dutch dominance by claiming titles on the final day of racing at the European Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen.

Kongshaug edged out home favourites Kjeld Nuis and Patrick Roest to become the first non-Dutch winner of the men's 1500m since 2018.

And Swings, Olympic gold medallist in the mass start, regained his European title with a consummate display in the last race of the Championships.

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There were no Dutch competitors on the podium at all, with Austria's Gabriel Odor second and Norway's Allan Dahl Johansson third.

But there was still plenty of Dutch success for the home crowd to savour.

Jenning de Boo was crowned the fastest male speed skater in Europe with 500m victory, followed by Estonia's Marten Liiv and Poland's Marek Kania.

Meanwhile, Jutta Leerdam upgraded 500m silver to 1000m gold. She had been beaten by compatriot Femke Kok over the shorter distance, with Austria's Vanessa Herzog completing the podium.

But victory for Leerdam came in the 1000m, with Herzog taking third place again. Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong finished between the pair.

Marijke Groenewoud won the women's mass start to crown a typically powerful team performance from the host nation.

They won 10 of 14 available gold medals, including a sweep of the seven women's events.

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