Friends and neighbours celebrating the new world champion outside his family house in Trollhättan. Credit: Victor Jensen,
- Sweden : The town of Trollhättan is celebrating local speed skater Nils van der Poel’s 10,000 metres world record and world championship gold medals. Trollhättan speed skating club hopes this will inspire more young people to take up the sport, and to keep at it also when they get older”It is very seldom that somebody from Trollhättan makes such an achievement,” says Christer Lorentzon, chairman of the club. Nils van der Poel set a new 10,000 metre speed skating world record at the World Championships on Sunday, with the time 12.32,95. He also won gold at 5,000 metres and is the first Swedish world champion since 1976.
