The next exclamation point comes from speed skating talent Sonnekalb. The young hopeful made it onto the podium again in the World Cup.
Speed skater Finn Sonnekalb’s success story continues on European ice. After two top 3 results at the World Cups in the USA and Canada, the young star from Erfurt made it onto the podium again on Saturday. At the World Cup in Heerenveen, Netherlands, the 18-year-old came second over 1,000 meters on Saturday (December 6, 2025).
Track record by daily winner Stolz
Sonnekalb only had to admit defeat to US superstar Jordan Stolz in 1:07.42 minutes. The 21-year-old was ahead in all intermediate times and also set a new track record in 1:06.38 minutes. Sonnekalb still had to tremble until the end. In the final duel of the competition, Tim Prins from the Netherlands and Cooper McLeod wanted to challenge the German for the podium place. But Prins had to settle for third place by seven hundredths of a second in 1:07.49, while McLeod only came twelfth.
Sonnekalb: “Olympia is under attack”
“The 1,000 meters is not my specialty. To finish behind the world record holder today in front of family and friends and in the mecca of speed skating is incredible.”said Sonnekalb happily at the sports show microphone. “Jordan is impressive. And it’s impressive to see how an idol and role model can become a competitor”said Sonnekalb about speed skating star Stolz. The German was still annoyed at the lecture about his fourth place over 1,500 meters. “I left the ice yesterday with knee pain. Then the thankless fourth place. I was really annoyed about that. That topped everything today – I hope that my body holds out. Then the Olympics will be attacked.”
Sonnekalb to third World Cup podium
With his second place, Sonnekalb celebrated a first: the Thuringian finished in the top three in a World Cup race over 1,000 meters for the first time. Most recently he came second in the 1,500 meters in Calgary and third in Salt Lake City.
Personal best times by Petzold and Groß
The other Germans only came in lower places in Saturday’s races. Hendrik Dombek came 16th over 1,000 meters (1:08.65 minutes). Felix Maly came eleventh (+38.50 seconds) over 10,000 meters with Czech Metadej Jilek’s victory (12:29.63 minutes). In the B group competition over 1,500 meters, Lea Sophie Scholz came seventh, Maira Jasch and Marlen Ehseluns came 27th and 28th. In the B group of the 10,000 meter men, Fridtjof Petzold, Gabriel Groß and Patrick Beckert came seventh, twelfth and 13th. Petzold in 12:52.88 minutes and Groß in 13:03.07 minutes set new personal best times.