Best Speed Skater of All Time
Who are the greatest Speed Skaters of all time? Explore the leading speed skaters in Sport Ranking’s historical Speed Skaters ranking, based on results from major international competitions across different eras.
Greatest Men’s Speed Skaters
Speed Skating Men
| # | Athlete | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sven Kramer | Netherlands | 529 |
| 2 | Shani Davis | United States | 370 |
| 3 | Clas Thunberg | Finland | 316 |
| 4 | Oscar Mathisen | Norway | 303 |
| 5 | Ivar Ballangrud | Norway | 300 |
| 5 | Jeremy Wotherspoon | Canada | 300 |
| 7 | Kjeld Nuis | Netherlands | 286 |
| 8 | Johann Olav Koss | Norway | 282 |
| 9 | Ard Schenk | Netherlands | 272 |
| 10 | Gianni Romme | Netherlands | 255 |
Greatest Women’s Speed Skaters
Speed Skating Women
| # | Athlete | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martina Sáblíková | Czech Republic | 600 |
| 2 | Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann | Germany | 571 |
| 3 | Claudia Pechstein | Germany | 491 |
| 4 | Ireen Wüst | Netherlands | 483 |
| 5 | Karin Kania-Enke | East Germany | 361 |
| 6 | Anni Friesinger | Germany | 354 |
| 7 | Bonnie Blair | United States | 306 |
| 8 | Miho Takagi | Japan | 290 |
| 9 | Cindy Klassen | Canada | 258 |
| 10 | Irene Schouten | Netherlands | 231 |
How the All-Time Ranking Works
The ranking includes major global competitions, primarily the World Championships and the World Cup. The Olympic Games carry the highest point value. The system is further complemented by continental championships. Team events are awarded three times the points of individual competitions in order to give them greater weight in the national rankings, but they are not included in the individual rankings.
World records are also rewarded, both for setting a new record and for holding it, reflecting a significant performance milestone.
In addition to the overall ranking, separate Sprint and Long Distance rankings are available. Sprint includes distances from 100 to 1000 metres as well as the Team Sprint, while Long Distance covers distances of 3000 metres and above together with the Team Pursuit. The 1500 m, Mass Start, Mixed Relay, Allround, and Overall disciplines remain exclusive to the overall ranking.
Learn more about Speed Skating scoring →