Lake Placid 1980 records fall at Lake Placid 2023

On Monday, on the second day of long track speed skating at the 2023 FISU World University Games, the Olympic legend’s track record in the men’s 5,000-metre, which had stood since his quintuple gold-medal performance in 1980, was finally broken at the James C. Sheffield Oval.

Twice.

Italy’s Riccardo Lorello was the first skater to go under Heiden’s previous mark of 7:02.29, crossing the line in 6:53.22, which stood as the winning time.

Moments later, Italian teammate Daniele Di Stefano clocked 6:55.20, good for silver. Motonaga Arito was third in 7:03.03.

Thibault Métraux, the short- and long-track Swiss champion, finished fourth, missing bronze for 0.60 seconds – an impressive result given that he was competing only for the third time on the 5,000-metre distance.

“I’m so happy because it’s my first track record ever,” said Lorello.

“I liked my start, because this distance is very, very difficult to maintain your energy,” added Di Stefano. “That’s why I’m very happy about this result.”

Beside the broken record, the compatriots were excited about the Italian one-two finish.

“I’m very happy for my teammate,” commented Di Stefano after joining his good friend on the podium. “For me, he’s my brother and now we always have this moment that we finished first and second.”

“We live together, we are on the same team,” added Lorello cheerfully. “We train every day together with the only Italian group in Trentino, and so it’s an amazing feeling.”

Not to be outdone, all three women who stepped on the 3,000m podium on Monday went under the previous track record of 4:32.13 set by Norwegian Eva Bjorg Jensen, also at the 1980 Winter Olympics.

Canada’s Laura Anne Hall triumphed in 4:25.70 and was followed at the line by Korean Jiwoo Park (4:28.18) and Canadian teammate Rose-Anne Grenier (4:29.10).

“I saw the record beforehand and kind of wanted to aim for that – just started fast and was able to keep the pace long enough to get it,” Hall said.

“I could hear the announcer throughout the race. I counted two laps to go, I heard that I was on a good pace for that,” added the newly-crowned FISU Games champion, explaining how she realized what her pace was during the race. “And then when I crossed the line, I could look on the board and see I’d gotten it.”

Long track speed skating continues on Tuesday at Lake Placid 2023 with the women’s and men’s 1,500m.

Written by Miha Trošt, FISU Young Reporter

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