ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships
Ventspils (LAT) 18-20 January 2008
The ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championship concluded
in Ventspils, Latvia, on Sunday. Arianna Fontana (ITA) and
Haralds Silovs (LAT) became the European champions of the
2008.
Haralds Silovs, the favorite of the home crowd, showed his
capacity already during the first day of championship and
won the 1,500 meter race. The other two medals were scooped
up by the Russian athletes - Vyacheslav Kurginyan and Ruslan
Zakharov. They outpaced Pieter Gysel (BEL), the vice champion
of last year and the Italian athletes such as Yuri Confortola
who took the sixth place.
The young Italian Arianna Fontana won the 1500 meter competition
in the ladies event. This allowed her to compete for the overall
victory. Russian athlete Nina Evteeva won the silver in 1,500
meter race, but Katerina Novotna (CZE) was the third. The
most titled European athlete Evgenia Radanova was unsuccessful
at the final race. Radonova however was more successful at
the second day of the competition, when she won the bronze
medal in 500 meter sprint. The victory at the tense final
was awarded to Annita Van Doorn (NED), because Patrycja Maliszewska
(POL) was disqualified after a finish in first position. Accordingly,
Van Doorn became a champion, but Erika Huzar (HUN) got the
silver medal.
British sprint specialist Jon Eley won the victory at the
500 meter race in the men’s. He outpaced Nicola Rodigari,
Europe’s champion of last year. The German Tyson Heung
got the bronze, but Eley was enlisted to the race at the superfinal.
The third day of championship brought unprecedented emotions
to the organizers of the event and Harald Silov’s fans.
Though Niels Kerstholt (NED) outpaced him a bit at the 1,
000 meter race final, his silver medal and 21 points made
him a sound leader before superfinal. Gabor Galambos (HUN)
won the bronze at the 1,000 meter race. The Dutchman as well
as the Hungarian were entitled to the race for medals in the
overall classification. Vyascheslav Kurginyan, another contender
for the medals, fell during the final race.
Evgenia Radanova (BUL) established herself firmly as one
of the strongest lady athletes in Europe – she won the
1,000 meter race by outpacing Arianna Fontana (ITA) . However,
the Italian remained the leader in the overall classification.
The bronze medal in the 1,000 meter race was taken by Nina
Evteeva (RUS).
Youth presided over experience in the superfinal –
Arianna Fontana won the victory in the final rounds and Radanova
was the fourth to come to the finish. So Fontana became the
champion at the overall classification, Radanova took the
silver and Nina Evteeva (RUS) – the bronze.
The 3,000 meter super final race in the men’s event
was held to the cheerings of the local crowd as Haralds Silovs
skated to the gold medal overall. He had to finish second
in order to be beyond the reach of his competitors. However,
he showed again his strength beating Nicola Rodigarito top
the podium. Silver medal in 3,000 meter race entitled Rodigari
to the bronze medal in overall classification. Niels Kersthold
(NED) saved his second place in overall classification by
finishing the third.
The competition was concluded by the 3,000 meter ladies relay
where the victory went to Great Britain. The 5,000 meter men’s
relay was won by the Italian team.
2008 ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships,
Ventspils, Latvia
Overall Classification, Men
Rank Name ISU Member Final Points
1 SILOVS Haralds LAT 89
2 KERSTHOLT Niels NED 47
3 RODIGARI Nicola ITA 42
Overall Classification, Ladies
Rank Name ISU Member Final Points
1 FONTANA Arianna ITA 89
2 RADANOVA Evgenia BUL 58
3 EVTEEVA Nina RUS 47
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