Norwegian speed skater Sander Eitrem set a new world record in the men’s 5000m event at the ISU Speed Skating World Cup held in Inzell, Germany. Eitrem finished the race in an impressive time of 5 minutes and 58.52 seconds, becoming the first skater to break the six-minute barrier in this distance. This achievement surpassed the previous record of 6:00.23 set by French skater Timothy Loubineaud in Salt Lake City, USA.
Eitrem, aged 23, expressed astonishment and joy as he crossed the finish line at the Max Aicher Arena. He threw his goggles in the air in celebration and couldn’t believe his accomplishment, stating, “I am still speechless.” Achieving this milestone was a childhood dream for Eitrem, making it an incredibly significant moment for him.
In the competition, Loubineaud finished in third place, more than five seconds behind Eitrem, while Czech skater Metoděj Jílek secured the second spot with a time of 6:01.98, earning the top overall position. American skater Jordan Stolz continued his winning streak by winning the final 1000m race, solidifying his position at the top of the overall standings after triumphing in all five races. Stolz also holds a commanding lead in the 500m standings ahead of the upcoming race.
Meanwhile, Canadian skater Ted-Jan Bloemen finished last in the 5000m event with a time of 6:25.172, trailing Eitrem by over 26 seconds. The speed skating events at the upcoming Milano-Cortina Winter Games are scheduled to take place from February 7 to 21.