(FILA Luxembourg S.a.r.L.) FILA is very excited to kick off the new year on the ice with remarkable achievements from the national teams and federations that proudly wear the FILA brand. The first major event of 2024, the European Speed Skating Championships, has just concluded at the Thialf Arena in Heerenveen, Netherlands, from January 5th to 7th. The Dutch athletes displayed absolute dominance, followed by the Norwegian team, and Italy secured three medals.
To break it down, the F-box team amassed 10 gold, 7 silver, and 5 bronze medals for the Netherlands, 2 gold, 1 silver, and 4 bronze for Norway, and 2 silver and 1 bronze for Italy.
It's remarkable how the Dutch women’s athletes claimed the top spot in all disciplines: 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, Team Pursuit, Team Sprint, and Mass Start, leaving no room for other national teams.
Specifically, Femke Kol won the 500m, followed by compatriot Jutta Leerdam who secured gold in the 1000m. The Dutch trio dominated the podium in the 1500m, with Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong winning ahead of Marike Groenewoud and Joy Beune. In the 3000m, Marike Groenwoud took the first place ahead of Dutch skater Irene Schouten and Norwegian Ragne Wiklund.
FILA would also like to congratulate Francesca Lollobrigida for the achievement of a bronze medal in the women's mass start. The Italian athlete's celebrating her first podium after her maternity leave, reached the hearts of the crowd in the arena by holding little Tommaso on her arms during the awards ceremony.
The men category also delivered outstanding performances, starting with Jenning De Boo's victory in the 500m. The 1000m repeated the Dutch dominance with a podium featuring Kjeld Nuis, De Boo, and Tim Prins. In the 1500m, Norwegian Peder Kongshaug triumphed ahead of Nuis and Patrick Roest. Roest secured victory in the longest distance, the 5000m, preceding the Italian Davide Ghiotto and the teammate Sander Eitrem.
The most thrilling moment was undoubtedly the final rush in the team pursuit, where the Italian trio of Ghiotto, Giovannini, and Malfatti conceded to the Norwegian team of Eitrem, Kongshaug, and Pedersen, who set a new world record with 3'34"22, followed by the Dutch team in third place.
Just imagine the spectacle on the long track with all the FILA athletes and the final podium dominated by our gear.
We are proud to continue these collaborations, even just to ‘freeze’ these wonderful moments forever.
We look forward to many more achievements in the upcoming event at the Hala Olivia in Gdansk, Poland, for the European Short Track Championships, from January 12th to 14th.
And we’re only at the beginning of the year!