Golden Girls: Dutch Speed ​​Skater Wins More World Titles

Irene Schuten celebrating her 5,000m title retention. Photo: Vincent Jannink ANP

The Dutch speed skater picked up several more medals on the final day of the world distance event at Thialf Stadium in Heerenveen on Sunday. Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong won gold in her 1,500m and Irene Schouten extended her 5,000m title.

In the men’s 1,500m, Kjelld Nuis and Thomas Kroll had to compromise on silver and bronze as teenage American Jordan Stolz won gold for the third time.

After winning the 5,000m, Patrick Roast was favorite in the 10,000m, but had to settle for fourth place. The gold medal went to Davide Ghiotto of Italy, the silver medal went to Jorit Bergsma of the Netherlands, and the bronze medal went to Ted Jan Blumen, a Canadian with roots in the Netherlands.

Sunday’s tally put the Netherlands firmly at the top of the medal table with seven gold medals in 16 events. Five of them were won by the women’s team.