At the beginning of the A final, the Ventspils player was at the head of the group of seven athletes, but then settled in the second half. In the last laps, the Latvian overtook a couple of rivals and finished third, just behind Canadian William Danjin and Dutchman Jens van’t Vout.
After the final, Vaught received a penalty, which resulted in second for Kreuzberg, who finished in two minutes and 17.246 seconds, 0.108 seconds off the winner. Third place was taken by the Italian Pietro Sigel.
Prior to that, in the semifinals, Kruzberg was undefeated in his skating and advanced to the A final.
It has already been reported that Latvian athletes did not have to participate in the first phase at this distance on Friday, but in the quarter-finals both participated in the same skating. After a foul by his opponent, Kruzberg fell and was appointed to the semi-finals by the decision of the judges, while Bērzins was third and could not enter the semi-finals immediately.
In the first round of pleasure skating, Bērziņš was found guilty of a collision and took 56th place in the competition of 71 athletes.
In the 500 meter distance on Saturday, Bērziņš stopped in the first round of the consolation competition, while Kruzberg did not make it past the quarterfinals. In this distance, Kruzberg has the 14th position, while Bērzińs has the 44th place.
On Sunday, when the competition starts at 4:50 p.m., the Latvians will compete in the 1000-meter distance. Kruzbergs will start it from the quarter-finals, while Bērzins will compete in the first round of satisfaction.
In the first stage, Kruzbergs won a silver medal at the distance of 1000 meters.
The first two stages take place in Montreal, which took over the organization of the second stage from the US city of Salt Lake City, on December 6-8 the athletes will compete in Beijing, on December 13-15 – in Seoul, on February 7-9 in the Dutch city of Tilburg and on February 14-16 in February – in the home of the 2026 Olympic Games in the Italian city of Milan.
The winners of the team competition will receive the Crystal Globe of the International Skating Union (ISU).
The European championship will take place on January 17-19 in the German city of Dresden, and the world championships will take place on March 14-16 in Beijing.
In the previous season, Bērziņš won a place on the podium from the Latvians, who won a bronze medal in the 1500-meter distance in the first stage. On the other hand, the 2022/2023 season for Kruzberg and Bērziņas was the best in their careers, as well as the most successful ever in the history of Latvian short track in the World Cup competitions.
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Expert in Speed Skating
Editor: Welcome, everyone! Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Emily Thompson, an expert in speed skating and sports performance. Emily, thank you for joining us!
Dr. Thompson: Thank you for having me! I’m excited to discuss the recent competition and the athletes involved.
Editor: Let’s dive right in. We saw an exciting A final recently, where the Ventspils player started strong but settled in second half of the race. What do you think contributed to this performance?
Dr. Thompson: It’s interesting, isn’t it? Starting strong can often give an athlete psychological momentum, but it can also lead to fatigue if they push too hard too early. The Ventspils athlete likely paced themselves, which allowed them to make those crucial overtakes towards the end. Smart strategy!
Editor: Smart indeed! By the way, William Danjin from Canada and Jens van’t Vout from the Netherlands took the top spots. What makes athletes from these countries particularly strong in speed skating?
Dr. Thompson: Canada and the Netherlands have a rich history in speed skating. They invest heavily in training facilities and programs, and the athletes benefit from a strong culture surrounding the sport. The Netherlands, for instance, is known for its long track skating, which really emphasizes technique and speed.
Editor: Speaking of technique, we saw a penalty that reshuffled the standings after the race. How do penalties affect the dynamics of competitive racing?
Dr. Thompson: Penalties can significantly change the outcome of a race, as seen when Vaught received a penalty, allowing Kreuzberg to slide into second place. This can create a ripple effect, altering how athletes approach their strategy in future rounds. It’s about consistency and staying within the rules while maximizing speed.
Editor: That’s an interesting perspective. Kreuzberg had a solid semifinal run, remaining undefeated before that final race. What do you believe is crucial for an athlete to maintain such dominance in earlier rounds?
Dr. Thompson: Mental toughness is key. If an athlete can maintain focus through multiple rounds, they can build confidence. Additionally, recovery between heats is vital; knowing how to use that time properly can make a big difference in performance.
Editor: Agreed! It’s fascinating how mental and physical aspects intertwine. The competition also featured a tough break for Bērzins, who was eliminated early due to a collision. How crucial is awareness on the track to avoid such pitfalls?
Dr. Thompson: Absolutely critical. Speed skating is as much about strategy as it is about speed. Athletes need to be aware of their surroundings and the movements of their competitors. A single collision can end a race, as we’ve seen. Collision avoidance techniques often come from experience, but also from training in crowded scenarios.
Editor: given the recent events and performances, what can we expect moving forward from these athletes, especially from Latvia?
Dr. Thompson: Latvia has shown promise, especially with athletes like Kruzberg and Bērzins. With continued support and training, they could rise in international rankings. Their experiences in competitive settings will only enhance their skills. If they learn from their experiences, I expect to see them achieving even greater success in future competitions.
Editor: Wonderful insights, Emily! Thank you for sharing your expertise with us today.
Dr. Thompson: Thank you for having me! It’s always a pleasure to discuss the sport.
Editor: And thanks to our viewers for tuning in. Until next time, keep up with the latest in sports and beyond at Time.news!