Speed Skating Discussion | Qualification to Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026 Road to Milano Cortina 2026

[Gianlu33 5,276]

25 minutes ago, copravolley said:

Ghiotto isn't a phenomenon. He made good useed of the time when Nils van der Poel retired and started winning the 10k. However, with the young Czech's explosive form, he will have no chance of winning gold (not the same level of talent, unfortunately). The same goes for Lollobrigida and Giovannini. Fontana is 35 and, in my opinion, it will be difficule for her (maybe some bronze with relay event, but nithing more). Sighel? You're right, but this sport is a lottery and the competition is strong: he could easily win or be eliminated in the quarter after a stupid DQ. We will see.

I think that you are drunk. 

[heywoodu 15,997]

29 minutes ago, copravolley said:

Ghiotto isn't a phenomenon. He made good useed of the time when Nils van der Poel retired and started winning the 10k. However, with the young Czech's explosive form, he will have no chance of winning gold (not the same level of talent, unfortunately). The same goes for Lollobrigida and Giovannini. Fontana is 35 and, in my opinion, it will be difficule for her (maybe some bronze with relay event, but nithing more). Sighel? You're right, but this sport is a lottery and the competition is strong: he could easily win or be eliminated in the quarter after a stupid DQ. We will see.

Sigh. What's with some people somehow thinking someone either has a 100% or 0% chance of success  

Edited September 16 by heywoodu

[copravolley 498]

24 minutes ago, heywoodu said:

Sigh. What's with some people somehow thinking someone either has a 100% or 0% chance of success  

Medal? Yes,

Gold? No.

Edited September 16 by copravolley

[heywoodu 15,997]

5 minutes ago, copravolley said:

Medal? Yes,

Gold? No.

I mean, no offense, but thinking Ghiotto has 0% chance for gold is ridiculous. Surely, truly you do not believe Jilek can impossibly be beaten and there is absolutely zero chance of anyone else winning the gold? Please tell me you have some sanity  

Edited September 16 by heywoodu

[copravolley 498]

Just now, heywoodu said:

I mean, no offense, but thinking Ghiotto has 0% chance for gold is ridiculous. Surely, truly you do not believe Jilek can impossibly be beaten and there is absolutely zero chance of anyone else winning the gold? Please tell me you have some sanity  

Ghiotto already won minimal on the 10k last season World Champ., against Jilek and Semyrunyj, who are younger than him. Eitrem could also improve in the 10k, although he's probably couting more for the 1500-5000. By the way, Phelps wrote a year ago that Jilek might be out of reach in Cortina on 5-10 km.

[heywoodu 15,997]

Just now, copravolley said:

Ghiotto already won minimal on the 10k last season World Champ., against Jilek and Semyrunyj, who are younger than him. Eitrem could also improve in the 10k, although he's probably couting more for the 1500-5000. By the way, Phelps wrote a year ago that Jilek might be out of reach in Cortina on 5-10 km.

Yeah, everyone who has been following speed skating for a bit knew for 1-2 years already that Jilek would likely be a major contender in 2026. But that simply doesn't mean nobody else really has a chance, especially a proven (triple) champion. In the past years, Ghiotto has always shown he's there when it matters, obviously he is going to have a chance. Just like Jilek, Semirunniy, Roest, Eitrem and who knows what we're going to see in the next few months.

 

Declaring a world champion and world record holder (which he did this year, come on) as having no chance when the season hasn't even nearly started yet...nah man, I don't know what juice you're drinking, but better put it back in the fridge for a bit buddy  

[copravolley 498]

Just now, heywoodu said:

Yeah, everyone who has been following speed skating for a bit knew for 1-2 years already that Jilek would likely be a major contender in 2026. But that simply doesn't mean nobody else really has a chance, especially a proven (triple) champion. In the past years, Ghiotto has always shown he's there when it matters, obviously he is going to have a chance. Just like Jilek, Semirunniy, Roest, Eitrem and who knows what we're going to see in the next few months.

 

Declaring a world champion and world record holder (which he did this year, come on) as having no chance when the season hasn't even nearly started yet...nah man, I don't know what juice you're drinking, but better put it back in the fridge for a bit buddy  

I was concerned that Ghiotto wasn't at his best form last season at the World Championships, but earier at the competition in Canada, where he broke the World Record on 10km. I hope this doesn't happen again in 2026.

[NearPup 3,480]

42 minutes ago, copravolley said:

Medal? Yes,

Gold? No.

Remember when Zhang Hong won gold despite only winning five individual World Cup races (and no other championship races, even if just at the Asian level) in her entire career?

 

Ice is slippery, upsets happen *all the time*.

[copravolley 498]

19 minutes ago, NearPup said:

Remember when Zhang Hong won gold despite only winning five individual World Cup races (and no other championship races, even if just at the Asian level) in her entire career?

 

Ice is slippery, upsets happen *all the time*.

But that won't happen in case of Italy. Look at our recent results in swimming, athletics etc.: tons of silver and bronze medals, but minimal number of gold. This is happens becouse the fact,  that we don't have phenomenal athletes like: McIntosh, Duplantis, etc., but a wide group of good athletes who rarely win. This will be even more evident in winter, as most winter sports are highly measurable, perhaps with the exception of short track.

[heywoodu 15,997]

23 minutes ago, NearPup said:

Remember when Zhang Hong won gold despite only winning five individual World Cup races (and no other championship races, even if just at the Asian level) in her entire career?

 

Ice is slippery, upsets happen *all the time*.

Jochem Uytdehaage's biggest win was a Dutch allround title and a Dutch 10k title (which very much counted, especially back then, but still, that was basically all). Then came Salt Lake City and hello double gold and double world record  (12:58.92 is still firmly in my mind, 11-year old me could not believe someone had actually gone sub-13)

 

Derek Parra had barely won anything as well before it. Got gold and silver. Gerard van Velde always missed everything, then got gold. There simply is no "certain winner", every single person who spent more than 5 hours watching sports surely knows that?

Edited September 16 by heywoodu