This is the first medal in the history of Polish speed skating won in the overall classification of this prestigious event. The success was accompanied by the athlete's unusual gestures and a declaration of full assimilation with Poland, which was met with great appreciation in the sports community.
Historic success for a Polish skater
Włodzimierz Siedmiorunny became the first Polish medalist in the overall classification of the World Allround Championships.
Skater's surname change
The skater officially announced that from now on he will use the Polonized form of his surname: Włodzimierz Siedmiorunny.
High financial bonus
For placing third in Inzell, the Polish representative received 15 thousand dollars from the ISU federation.
Władimir Semirunnij achieved a historic feat during the World Allround Speed Skating Championships held in Inzell, Germany. The Polish representative won a bronze medal, becoming the first Pole in history to stand on the podium of this prestigious event in the overall allround classification. This success is all the more significant as the skater felt exceptionally confident on the ice, comparing his form to performances at the most important international events. The allround speed skating event is one of the most difficult disciplines in speed skating, requiring athletes to be versatile over distances from 500 to 10,000 meters. Poland, despite successes in individual distances, had never before had a medalist in the overall classification of the World Championships. After the medal ceremony, the skater shared his feelings regarding his physical form and the atmosphere of the competition. „Czułem się chyba lepiej niż na igrzyskach olimpijskich w Pekinie” (I felt perhaps better than at the Olympic Games in Beijing) — Władimir Semirunnij. Everything came together perfectly at this most important moment of the season, allowing for effective competition with the world's best speed skaters. For placing third in the overall classification, the Polish athlete received a financial prize of 15 thousand dollars from the ISU. 15 000 (dolarów) — financial bonus for the bronze medal The sporting events were accompanied by important personal declarations and unusual gestures. The skater announced that he intends to use a Polonized version of his surname, which is meant to emphasize his strong bond with Poland. This gesture caused surprise in Natalia Czerwonka, who did not hide her bewilderment at her protege's behavior. „To polskie nazwisko to dla mnie ważny krok” (This Polish surname is an important step for me) — Włodzimierz Siedmiorunny. Stabilized form and the high financial bonus allow the athlete to look optimistically towards preparations for future seasons, where the goal remains to fight for the highest honors in long-distance events. World Allround Championships financial prizes: Gold medal: 25000, Silver medal: 19000, Bronze medal: 15000, Fourth place: 12000