Stolz caps remarkable season with historic allround triumph

American Jordan Stolz capped a remarkable season with a record-breaking allround victory at the World Speed Skating Championships.

Stolz, 19, became the youngest man to win the world allround championships for 45 years in Inzell, Germany on Sunday.

Stolz distanced Dutchman Patrick Roest, a three-time world allround champion, by 1.021 points for a total haul of 144.740 — the best in the history of the allround championships, which date officially to 1893.

Stolz ends his season having broken his first world record (1000m), skated a fastest time in history at sea level (1500m), swept the 500m, 1000m and 1500m at February's world championships for a second consecutive year and now claiming the allround title.

Roest settled for second, while Norway's Hallgeir Engebraten claimed bronze.

Stolz said: "There is a bit less interest in this tournament (in the U.S.), but hopefully I can bring some back and bring back some of the tradition that the American skaters have like Eric Heiden, bring it back to the public."

On the women's side, it was the Dutch who swept the board with gold, silver and bronze medals.

Joy Beune took the gold medal in her first appearance in the allround competition, winning all but the shortest 500m race.

Marijke Groenewoud won silver and Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong took bronze.

Sportsbeat 2024