Short Track World Tour 2025 Milan: Top Stars To Watch Out In Speed Skating

The speed skating short track FIS World Tour season is reaching its pinnacle with the sixth and final stop taking place in Milan, Italy.

The competition scheduled from 14-16 February will also serve as a dress rehearsal for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

William Dandjinou has his eyes on the Crystal Globe Trophy, with the Canadian world champion having amassed a lead of 182 points over the Netherlands’ Jens van ’t Wout, who has been slowly but surely closing the gap on his rival. While it is still mathematically possible for van ‘t Wout to overtake Dandjinou, the Canadian remains the favorite to secure the title.

The women’s race has been a lot tighter as ranking leaders have changed event by event. Going into the test event, Team USA’s Kristen Santos-Griswold has a slim lead of 28 points over teammate and friend Corinne Stoddard.

Short Track World Tour, Milan: Stars to watch

The women’s field is wide open with athletes in a tight race in the overall rankings. Santos-Griswold with 878 points leads the chart with a slim lead just 28 points ahead of second-place American Stoddard.

Last season Crystal Globe winner Kim Gilli sits in fifth place with 692 points.

Santos-Griswold is another strong contender. After three silvers in Montreal and Beijing, she topped the podium in Seoul in both the 500m and 1500m, and secured a bronze in the 500m in Tilburg.

Dutchwoman Xandra Velzeboer is first in the women’s 1000m. She topped the 500m in Montreal and Beijing, took the women’s 3000m relay, and mixed relay gold and bronze in the 1000m in front of her hometown crowd.

In the men’s competition, the 24-year-old William Dandjinou is the favourite to win the Crystal globe. Last season he won the world 1000m title and took home six World Cup gold medals.

Short Track World Tour, Milan: Top Stars To Watch Out In Speed Skating

He also reigned supreme in the men’s 1500 and 500m at the season-opening World Tour event in Montreal. He won another gold in the 1500m and managed to stay atop both the 1000 and 1500m men’s standings.

His Canadian teammate Steven Dubois, the 5000m relay Olympic gold medallist, is looking to win the 500m title where he leads with Dandjinoi in the third spot.

In the mixed team relay, the Dutch Lions lead the overall standings ahead of the Republic of Korea’s White Tigers and the Canadian Ice Maples.

Also Read: Short Track World Tour: Netherlands Sweeps On Home Ice In Tilburg