In a breathtaking display of endurance, precision, and speed, France’s Timothy Loubineaud etched his name into speed skating history by smashing the men’s 5000-metre world record at the ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Salt Lake City. The French skater stopped the clock at 6:00.23, obliterating the previous world mark of 6:01.56 set by Sweden’s Olympic champion Nils van der Poel.
The achievement unfolded at the Utah Olympic Oval — widely known as the “fastest ice on Earth” — where atmospheric conditions and high altitude often create an ideal environment for record-breaking performances. But even by those standards, Loubineaud’s run was extraordinary.
What makes this record even more remarkable is Loubineaud’s unconventional journey. The 29-year-old athlete from Arcachon, France, began his career as an inline skater and transitioned to ice skating only in 2017. Without a single full-sized long-track ice facility in France, his rise has been fueled by perseverance, international training, and an almost improbable belief that he could someday compete with the sport’s greatest.
“I never expected this in my life,” a stunned but ecstatic Loubineaud told reporters after the event. “As a French guy, we don’t have any tracks in France. I used to watch Sven Kramer and Patrick Roest and feel they were miles ahead. To be part of that group today feels unreal.”
Loubineaud entered the race with modest expectations, aiming primarily to skate a clean, efficient 5000m. However, he quickly found himself ahead of the pace. Lap after lap, he maintained razor-sharp consistency, his technique remarkably fluid as his skates cut effortlessly through the ice.
By the halfway mark, the arena sensed something special was happening. The French skater’s split times stayed firmly below the world record pace, and the crowd grew more animated with every passing lap. With his final push, Loubineaud surged across the line at 6:00.23 — a full 1.33 seconds faster than the previous world record.
Behind him, the race produced two national records:
Czech Republic’s Metoděj Jílek finished in 6:02.78
Norway’s Sander Eitrem clocked 6:03.38
But all eyes were firmly on the Frenchman and his historic breakthrough.
A Landmark Moment for French Speed Skating
France has long produced world-class athletes in short-track skating and inline racing, but long-track speed skating has remained a relatively small niche due to the lack of domestic facilities. Loubineaud’s world record could mark a turning point.
French skating officials hailed the achievement as one of the country’s most significant moments in winter sports in recent years. Analysts say it could generate momentum for expanding long-track infrastructure in France and inspire a new generation of talent.
This record is significant in multiple ways:
It ends an era dominated by the van der Poel benchmark, once thought nearly untouchable.
It establishes Loubineaud as a serious contender for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
It highlights the increasing competitiveness of long-track speed skating as athletes across nations push performance boundaries.
It underscores the power of cross-disciplinary training, as Loubineaud’s inline skating background continues to give him an edge in technique and endurance.
With the World Cup season just beginning, Loubineaud’s performance has electrified fans and set a high bar for the months ahead. Coaches and analysts believe he still has room to improve, particularly with more time on high-quality ice tracks.
Whether this record stands for long or becomes the first of several breakthroughs remains to be seen. But for now, Timothy Loubineaud has changed the landscape of men’s long-distance speed skating — and carved a place for himself among the sport’s legends.
