World Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen (Netherlands), women's 5000m race, March 5, 2023. In the middle, winner Irene Schouten of the Netherlands, left second Ragne Wiklund of NORWAY and right third Martina Sáblíková of the Czech Republic.
Heerenveen (Netherlands) – Speed skater Martina Sáblíková won bronze in the 5000 meters race at the World Championships in Heerenveen and thus won her second medal at the championship. In a new course record, reigning Olympic champion Irene Schouten of the Netherlands won on the course. Norway's Ragne Wiklund won silver.
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Photo gallery: Speed Skating Season 2022/23
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In the last race of the season, the 35-year-old Czech representative significantly surpassed this year's personal best and, just as she did on Thursday in the triple, she established herself among the top three. In the end, Sáblíková was behind Schoutenová by 6.53 seconds, Wiklundová was almost five seconds slower than the winner.
Sáblíková already won her 32nd medal at the World Championships, her 13th on the 5000-meter track.
The native of Nové Město na Moravě presented herself in the fourth of six heats in the packed Thialf hall, where over 12,000 spectators watched the races. Her opponent was the domestic specialist in fives and holder of the best time of the season Sanne in't Hofová. Sáblíková was able to beat the Dutch woman by seven seconds and significantly entered the fight for a medal.
The order on the podium was determined only by the last heat, in which the two best long-distance speed skaters of the season, Wiklundová and Schoutenová, competed. While the Norwegian representative won the triple on Thursday, today the home star was better Schouten, who broke the national record and the best time set in Heerenveen.
Results of the World Speed Skating Championships on individual tracks
Men:
1500 m: 1. Stolz (USA) 1:43.592, 2. Nuis 1:43.827, 3. Krol (both Netherlands) 1:44.300.
10,000 m: 1. Ghiotto (It.) 12:41.35, 2. Bergsma (Netherlands) 12:55.64, 3. Bloemen (Can.) 13:01.84.
Women:
1500 m: 1. Rijpmaová-de Jongová (Netherlands) 1:53.548, 2. Wiklundová (Nor.) 1:54.306, 3. Takagiová (Japan) 1:54.391.
5000 m: 1. Schoutenová (Netherlands) 6:41.25, 2. Wiklundová 6:46.15, 3. Sáblíková (ČR) 6:47.78.
