Speed Skating
World Single Distance Championships -- The power of two
Speed skating's 2002-03 season ended this week much like it began -- with the status quo intact and redemption for an epic collapse in the same setting two years prior.
World Cup Finals -- Dutch treats galore
The 16th World Cup Speed Skating season ended in tradition, with the Super Bowl of the sport looming in the (single) distance.
Inzell World Cup -- Like TV, speed skating's rerun season is in full bloom
As the curtain slowly drops on the 2002-03 speed skating season, the veterans, and the juniors, take center stage on two continents.
Italy World Cup -- Comebacks all around
Both of last year's World All-round Speed Skating Champions (men and women) returned to the proverbial oval this past weekend and had some impressive results. Read on for the story.
Oh, Canada; your title drought is done
The last time a Canadian won a World All-round Speed Skating Title, Jimmy Carter was President of the USA. This sequel, however, was far more memorable than the original.
Sweden, here they come...
The final pieces of the World Speed Skating Championships puzzle came into focus, and the North America/Oceania Regional Qualifier actually lived up to the latter area's name.
A 'Spoon-ful, a drive for five, and a sad farewell
The World Sprint Speed Skating Championships featured achievement on the ice, and a sobering realization for the end of the oval, which hosted the event.
This week, Euros can do...
Most of the World All-round Championships participation puzzle fell into place as the European Championships played out, while Canada was the last major country to crown its national speedskating champions. Here's the story.
Speed skating's BCS -- No controversies here
On three continents, a rite of winter ensued to determine who goes left the best. It included the stars and stripes, too.
Nagano -- The home team strikes first...
The sprinters finally get their orders to go left in this disjointed season, where the Japanese have their most successful speed skating weekend in many a moon.
Klass(en) of the ice...
North America's first real women's all-round championship threat in a generation, Cindy Klassen of Canada, keeps on going in the sport's Mecca. This and more news in the world of speed skating follows.
World Cup #2: Beginning of the end for the 10?
A speedskating first -- a samalog competition during a World Cup meet -- produces mixed results... and emotions.
No rest for the gilded...
Gold, silver or bronze medalists, that is, as speedskating's 2001-02 season enters the home stretch with a full plate of weekend action.
Kearns Postscript: A fine fortnight for turning left...
You could call this the E-Sports Olympic Speedskating Awards -- ten categories that sum up two marvelous weeks in February. OK, eleven...
Kearns, Week one review: While everyone catches their breath
Let's take a moment to review one of the most sensational weeks in American Olympic speedskating history, and how it lords it over figure skating (and short track) any day of the week.
Kearns, Day 5: A good day for hyphenated skaters
In speedskating, where the only judge is the clock, Catriona Lemay Doan and Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt set themselves up for a duel for the gold.
Kearns Day 4: Does the medal Fitz? Oh yeah!
American speedskating reaches the mountaintop after eight long years of near-misses. And there are still seven races to go.
Kearns Day 3: 34 Seconds Down; 34 To Go
America's first speedskating gold medal since 1994 is within reach, thanks to the sport's Mighty Casey, and if the fates are kind, a second medal as well.
Olympic Preview (Part 2 of 2)
Our week-long preview of both short track and speedskating concludes with the women, and a free-spirited German aims for an Olympic triple crown...and don't bet against it.
Thursday, Rotten Thursday
With apologies to U2, last Thursday was one day all of American speedskating probably would wish had never happened.
Short track and controversy -- imperfect together
Apolo Ohno's only loss in the U.S. Short Track speedskating trials takes a new turn; same old, same old, at Europe's all-around championships.
2001 -- A year like no other
As the curtain is lowered on the first pre-Olympic speedskating season of the 21st century, here's a look back at what was during this past year, and this past fortnight...
Three cities, three ovals, much drama
In America, Canada and Holland, the 2002 speedskating competition on sport's biggest stage -- the Olympics -- took shape.
This Mighty Casey Didn't Strike Out....
Casey Fitzrandolph and his American teammates have a ball at the pre-Olympic World Cup races in the 2002 Olympic speedskating venue.
Nothing Hague -- or vague - -about it
Derek Parra, U.S. speedskating Olympic medal contender. After a wonderful weekend in Holland's capital city, that has a nice ring to it.
The road to 2002
Stop me if you've heard this before. In fact, you have; Holland and Germany take no prisoners again in the second weekend of the speedskating season.
Speedskating: A tale of two countries
German women and Dutch men ran up the score (RUTS) in speedskating season opener.
SPEEDSKATING: World Single Distances: End of an era? Likely.
Calgary Olympic Oval. World's fastest indoor speedskating venue no longer. Maybe longer than that.
SPEEDSKATING: World single distances: Three for the show on day two
By sun-up on Monday, there may be a new boss in town; Salt Lake City's speedskating oval inches closer to supremacy over world record races.
SPEEDSKATING: Your turn, Kearns...
Anni Friesinger and speedskating's own 'Rod' spice up the final day of the world cup season in Calgary. But was it the last day for its oval to be called fastest oval in the world as well?
SPEEDSKATING: Calgary Day 2: Good things come in threes
Speedskating's version of a triple-double occurred today at Calgary's world cup final, and sets up a magnificent finale for Sunday.
SPEEDSKATING: Calgary Day 1: Expect the unexpected...
Today as the World Cup speedskating finals began in Canada, it demonstrated proof positive that a .250 batting average isn't good on ice, either...
SPEEDSKATING: Three kilometers worth savoring...
Speedskating's own Roger Bannister brought her gender closer to the four-minute barrier on the 3000 meters after a disappointing world championships allround.
SPEDSKATING: Without top or bottom; now, without peer...
The stage was set; after skate-offs, continental qualifications and the co-favorite of the women’s races posing nude in a German magazine, the 2001 World Speedskating Championships were held in the shadow of a castle, for the first time in Hungary, and the first outdoors since 1996.
SPEEDSKATING: Gone in 4.1 seconds
A little less than half of what time it takes to run a 100-meter dash in athletics. This weekend, however, it was the length of time that caused a defending world champion not to compete for his second straight title.
SPEEDSKATING: Speedskating Has Its Own Playoffs
As the sprint world cup tour resumed in Finland, a nation neck-deep in speedskating talent went to an old - and sometimes despised - way of selection for world cup and world championship battle.
SPEEDSKATING: Dynasties, By Any Other Name Or Country...
For Canada and Germany, they enjoyed the benefits of back-to-back-to-back at the World Sprint Speedskating Championships. For the Americans, it was just a plain - and discouraging - step back(ward).
SPEEDSKATING: Anatomy Of An All-around Championship.
World records fell and world class speedskaters fell ill this weekend, and a national allround championship north of the border reaffirmed just how exciting speedskating is.
Speedskating: Year In Review (conclusion), and more...
College football doesn't have exclusivity on national championships being decided. In speedskating, three continents chimed in on who will compete for world championship glory in February.
SPEEDSKATING: Year In Review (Part 1 of 2)
A speedskating writer's dilemma - what to do when there's no speedskating to write about? If it's at the end of a year, what else is there to do?
SPEED SKATING: A Tale Of Two Sprinters
Casey Fitzrandolph and Catriona Lemay-Doan took different career paths on clapskates. This weekend one tasted the podium for the first time in ages, while the other remained there.
SPEEDSKATING: North American Speedskating Alive And Kicking In Asia
American and Canadian long and short-track teams do very well in speedskating events in Korea and China.
As the curtain slowly drops on the 2002-03 speed skating season, the veterans, and the juniors, take center stage on two continents.
Italy World Cup -- Comebacks all around
Both of last year's World All-round Speed Skating Champions (men and women) returned to the proverbial oval this past weekend and had some impressive results. Read on for the story.
Oh, Canada; your title drought is done
The last time a Canadian won a World All-round Speed Skating Title, Jimmy Carter was President of the USA. This sequel, however, was far more memorable than the original.
Sweden, here they come...
The final pieces of the World Speed Skating Championships puzzle came into focus, and the North America/Oceania Regional Qualifier actually lived up to the latter area's name.
A 'Spoon-ful, a drive for five, and a sad farewell
The World Sprint Speed Skating Championships featured achievement on the ice, and a sobering realization for the end of the oval, which hosted the event.
This week, Euros can do...
Most of the World All-round Championships participation puzzle fell into place as the European Championships played out, while Canada was the last major country to crown its national speedskating champions. Here's the story.
Speed skating's BCS -- No controversies here
On three continents, a rite of winter ensued to determine who goes left the best. It included the stars and stripes, too.
Nagano -- The home team strikes first...
The sprinters finally get their orders to go left in this disjointed season, where the Japanese have their most successful speed skating weekend in many a moon.
Klass(en) of the ice...
North America's first real women's all-round championship threat in a generation, Cindy Klassen of Canada, keeps on going in the sport's Mecca. This and more news in the world of speed skating follows.
World Cup #2: Beginning of the end for the 10?
A speedskating first -- a samalog competition during a World Cup meet -- produces mixed results... and emotions.
No rest for the gilded...
Gold, silver or bronze medalists, that is, as speedskating's 2001-02 season enters the home stretch with a full plate of weekend action.
Kearns Postscript: A fine fortnight for turning left...
You could call this the E-Sports Olympic Speedskating Awards -- ten categories that sum up two marvelous weeks in February. OK, eleven...
Kearns, Week one review: While everyone catches their breath
Let's take a moment to review one of the most sensational weeks in American Olympic speedskating history, and how it lords it over figure skating (and short track) any day of the week.
Kearns, Day 5: A good day for hyphenated skaters
In speedskating, where the only judge is the clock, Catriona Lemay Doan and Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt set themselves up for a duel for the gold.
Kearns Day 4: Does the medal Fitz? Oh yeah!
American speedskating reaches the mountaintop after eight long years of near-misses. And there are still seven races to go.
Kearns Day 3: 34 Seconds Down; 34 To Go
America's first speedskating gold medal since 1994 is within reach, thanks to the sport's Mighty Casey, and if the fates are kind, a second medal as well.
Olympic Preview (Part 2 of 2)
Our week-long preview of both short track and speedskating concludes with the women, and a free-spirited German aims for an Olympic triple crown...and don't bet against it.
Thursday, Rotten Thursday
With apologies to U2, last Thursday was one day all of American speedskating probably would wish had never happened.
Short track and controversy -- imperfect together
Apolo Ohno's only loss in the U.S. Short Track speedskating trials takes a new turn; same old, same old, at Europe's all-around championships.
2001 -- A year like no other
As the curtain is lowered on the first pre-Olympic speedskating season of the 21st century, here's a look back at what was during this past year, and this past fortnight...
Three cities, three ovals, much drama
In America, Canada and Holland, the 2002 speedskating competition on sport's biggest stage -- the Olympics -- took shape.
This Mighty Casey Didn't Strike Out....
Casey Fitzrandolph and his American teammates have a ball at the pre-Olympic World Cup races in the 2002 Olympic speedskating venue.
Nothing Hague -- or vague - -about it
Derek Parra, U.S. speedskating Olympic medal contender. After a wonderful weekend in Holland's capital city, that has a nice ring to it.
The road to 2002
Stop me if you've heard this before. In fact, you have; Holland and Germany take no prisoners again in the second weekend of the speedskating season.
Speedskating: A tale of two countries
German women and Dutch men ran up the score (RUTS) in speedskating season opener.
SPEEDSKATING: World Single Distances: End of an era? Likely.
Calgary Olympic Oval. World's fastest indoor speedskating venue no longer. Maybe longer than that.
SPEEDSKATING: World single distances: Three for the show on day two
By sun-up on Monday, there may be a new boss in town; Salt Lake City's speedskating oval inches closer to supremacy over world record races.
SPEEDSKATING: Your turn, Kearns...
Anni Friesinger and speedskating's own 'Rod' spice up the final day of the world cup season in Calgary. But was it the last day for its oval to be called fastest oval in the world as well?
SPEEDSKATING: Calgary Day 2: Good things come in threes
Speedskating's version of a triple-double occurred today at Calgary's world cup final, and sets up a magnificent finale for Sunday.
SPEEDSKATING: Calgary Day 1: Expect the unexpected...
Today as the World Cup speedskating finals began in Canada, it demonstrated proof positive that a .250 batting average isn't good on ice, either...
SPEEDSKATING: Three kilometers worth savoring...
Speedskating's own Roger Bannister brought her gender closer to the four-minute barrier on the 3000 meters after a disappointing world championships allround.
SPEDSKATING: Without top or bottom; now, without peer...
The stage was set; after skate-offs, continental qualifications and the co-favorite of the women’s races posing nude in a German magazine, the 2001 World Speedskating Championships were held in the shadow of a castle, for the first time in Hungary, and the first outdoors since 1996.
SPEEDSKATING: Gone in 4.1 seconds
A little less than half of what time it takes to run a 100-meter dash in athletics. This weekend, however, it was the length of time that caused a defending world champion not to compete for his second straight title.
SPEEDSKATING: Speedskating Has Its Own Playoffs
As the sprint world cup tour resumed in Finland, a nation neck-deep in speedskating talent went to an old - and sometimes despised - way of selection for world cup and world championship battle.
SPEEDSKATING: Dynasties, By Any Other Name Or Country...
For Canada and Germany, they enjoyed the benefits of back-to-back-to-back at the World Sprint Speedskating Championships. For the Americans, it was just a plain - and discouraging - step back(ward).
SPEEDSKATING: Anatomy Of An All-around Championship.
World records fell and world class speedskaters fell ill this weekend, and a national allround championship north of the border reaffirmed just how exciting speedskating is.
Speedskating: Year In Review (conclusion), and more...
College football doesn't have exclusivity on national championships being decided. In speedskating, three continents chimed in on who will compete for world championship glory in February.
SPEEDSKATING: Year In Review (Part 1 of 2)
A speedskating writer's dilemma - what to do when there's no speedskating to write about? If it's at the end of a year, what else is there to do?
SPEED SKATING: A Tale Of Two Sprinters
Casey Fitzrandolph and Catriona Lemay-Doan took different career paths on clapskates. This weekend one tasted the podium for the first time in ages, while the other remained there.
SPEEDSKATING: North American Speedskating Alive And Kicking In Asia
American and Canadian long and short-track teams do very well in speedskating events in Korea and China.