Finn Sonnekalb shines at the World Cup: second place and Olympic ticket!

Finn Sonnekalb shines at the World Cup: second place and Olympic ticket!

There is a new shining hero in speed skating: Finn Sonnekalb! The 18-year-old, who already caused a sensation in Salt Lake City, took second place in the 1,500 meters at the World Cup in Calgary on November 23, 2025. With a time of 1:42.31 minutes, he was only beaten by the American Jordan Stolz by 21 hundredths of a second. This impressive performance makes it clear: Sonnekalb has a good hand when it comes to competing on the ice rink. The young athlete is now undoubtedly a name to remember.

A week ago, the talented speed skater made people take notice again in Salt Lake City and lowered the German record over 1,000 meters to a sensational 1:06.48 minutes, which catapulted him to fifth place in the World Cup. In doing so, he beat Joel Dufter's old record by 32 hundredths of a second. Only a hundredth separated him from the junior world record. Even though it was his second time on the podium in the 1,500 meter World Cup, the momentum of his current performances gives him self-confidence for the challenges ahead.

A look at the Olympic Games

Sonnekalb has already qualified for the Olympic Games next February in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. This is a significant step in his career, as the last medal for the German speed skating team was won at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. Expectations for his performance are high and Sonnekalb seems willing to make history.

The top performances fit seamlessly into the successes of the German speed skating team. For example, Gabriel Gross from Inzell also set a record over 5,000 meters and thus led the team to a hopeful Olympic qualification. With two national records and numerous personal best times, the team is well positioned for the upcoming competitions, according to sportschau.de.

The technology behind success

Speed ​​skating is a science in itself. The athletes race on a 400-meter-long track that is similar to the Olympic track. They use special folding skates with a hinge mechanism that help them race against time and against each other. Whether in the mass start, the traditional long distance or the team pursuit – the fight for the best time is the key to success. Information about this fascinating sport and the exciting events of the upcoming Olympic Games can also be found at olympics.com.

With his talent and tireless drive, Finn Sonnekalb promises to become an exciting athlete of the future. His next steps on the international stage will be followed with great attention. It remains to be hoped that he can also shine at the Olympic Games and perhaps bring the long-awaited medal to Germany!

Sophie Warmuth also took part in Calgary, finishing tenth in the 500 meters with a time of 37.43 seconds. The Dutch Femke Kok secured victory with 36.65 seconds. All of these performances show that there is a lot of movement and momentum in German speed skating.