Problems 1000 meters speed-skating on agenda ISU

The International Skating Union (ISU) has put the '1000 meters problem' on the agenda of its 53th congress (12-20 June in Barcelona), an issue for which professor Gerard Sierksma, dr. Gerard Kuper and Richard Kamst -RUG econometricians- have repeatedly pleaded. Their research showed that, statistically, it matters a lot if a skater has to start in the inner or outer lane at the 1000 meters. Sierksma, Kuper and Kamst proposed to skate the 1000 meters twice and take the fastest of the two finish times of every skater.

According to the corrective calculation method, Annette Gerritsen would have won the gold medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Because of the differences between inner and outer curves, the ISU decided years ago to skate the 500 meters twice.

See earlier press releases on this subject

Econometrists: Olympic 1000m must be skated twice
Gold medal for speed-skater Gerritsen after outerlane correction