Wiklund took WC gold in the 3000 meters by just half a second after recording a time of 3:56.86.

He probably secured the gold in the last two rounds. In the gold race, he went as fast as he had ever done before at the end of the 3000 meters. With times of 31.09 and 31.60, he beat the previous best record and secured the gold.

It came after problems in the last World Cup race before the World Championships.

– In Poland, in the last race I went there, I went very smoothly, and there I was one second up in the last lap. The goal today was to complete the last round from last weekend, explained Wiklund.

She had to do just that, as her competitor Irene Schouten of the Netherlands had only completed a few pairs before Wiklund. It made the Norwegian shooting star.

– I saw Schouten’s lap times before I left, so I knew that if I rode as much as I did in Poland, I would be behind. So I just need to sharpen and slide properly, says Wiklund.

– Evaluation

He did so, and crossed the finish line just half a second ahead of Schouten.

– This very tasty. I pulled myself together and thought I’d try to stay together as best I could and skate properly the whole way.

Behind him, neither pair next was able to beat Wiklund’s time, who set the fastest time on the low country track of his career. Thus, he was able to celebrate Norway’s first WC gold in the 3000 meters.

– This is outclassing Ragne Wiklund, says Viaplay expert and former ice skater Marit Fjellager Bøhm.

– This is a historic day, says Viaplay expert Ida Njåtun.

Wiklund himself was pleased with the achievement.

– This is one of the greatest things I have done. When I won the 1500 meters two years ago it was a big surprise. “Now it’s really exciting to show what I’ve done well all year and actually win WC,” he said.

She thus defeated Dutchman Irene Schouten, who had dominated the 3000 meters in recent years. Schouten took EC gold, Olympic gold and a long-distance victory in the all-distance WC last year, but has struggled recently. Hence, he withdrew from the World Cup to target WC, but it was not enough to knock Wiklund off the post.

– It’s an amazing run by Ragne Wiklund. She beat course record holder Irene Schouten, who had been at home and refilling for this race, said Viaplay commentator Njåtun.

– There’s no point in being at home recuperating when you meet Ragne Wiklund in the championship, insists fellow Bøhm expert.

Strong season

Wiklund has dominated the 3000 meters in this season’s World Cup, and carries a load of stamp favorites to WC in the individual distance.

This season she achieved her first World Cup win and won no less than four of the five 3000 meter dashes at the World Cup. The only time she has yet to win was at Heerenveen in the second round of this season’s World Cup, where she finished third behind Irene Schouten and Isabelle Weidemann.

In 2021, Wiklund became the first Norwegian woman to win a medal in the individual distance WC, an event she has held 21 times since it was first held in 1996.

Two years ago, she surprisingly won the 1500 meters, which was her first top-level podium. In the 3,000 meters, she queued for a long time, but finished weakly and ended up in fourth place.

Never before has Norway won World Cup gold in the 3000 meters, but Bjørg Eva Jensen won Olympic gold in the 3000 meters in 1980.