The World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships are a series of speed skating competitions organised by the International Skating Union .
7-550: Since the late 19th century, speed skating championships were always decided by racing multiple distances – four different distances for the Allround Championships , and two different distances (which have to be skated twice) for Sprint Championships . However, the speed skating events at the Olympic Games were always individual distances, no medals are awarded for a combined event (the only exception being
14-433: A series of speed skating events held annually to determine the best allround speed skater of the world. The event is held over two days, with all skaters entering the first three distances (500 m, 3000 m and 1500 m for women; 500 m, 5000 m and 1500 m for men) and the best eight skaters over these distances getting to ride the last event (5000 m for women; 10 000 m for men). The results of the races are converted to points, and
21-485: The 1924 Winter Olympics ). Towards the end of the 20th century, skaters started to specialize and it became rare that a skater was able to dominate both the short and the long distances. Perhaps the last skater able to do so was Eric Heiden , who won all five distances at the 1980 Winter Olympics . As a consequence of this specialization, the difference between the Olympic Games and the regular championships, and
28-583: The Winter Olympics during the same year was too much, so since 1999, the World Single Distance Championships are no longer held in (Winter) Olympic years. The skaters compete in the following distances: ( List of medal winners ) ( List of medal winners ) The medal table by nations is the total number of the 16 distances (men and women) at all of the 23 championships (1996–2024). The individual tables are about
35-633: The eight distances by gender. All medals, click on the nation to go to the list of medallists. Updated after the 2024 World Championships . Top 10, including team pursuit and team sprint. Boldface denotes active skaters and highest medal count among all skaters (including those who are not included in these tables) per type. Top 10, including team pursuit and team sprint. Boldface denotes active skaters and highest medal count among all skaters (including those who are not included in these tables) per type. World Allround Speed Skating Championships The World Allround Speed Skating Championships are
42-615: The popularity of both the Speed skating World Cup and Single Distance Championships held nationally in several countries, the International Skating Union decided to organise the World Single Distance Championships. Starting in 1996, this originally was an annual event, but in 1998 it became clear that having World Single Distance Championships and the Single Distance Championships as held at
49-498: The skater with lowest total score wins the championship. The International Skating Union has organised the World Allround Championships for Men since 1893 (unofficial Championships were held in the years 1889–1892) and the World Allround Championships for Women since 1936 (unofficial Championships were held in the years 1933–1935). Since 1996 the men's and women's World Allround Championships are held at
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