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Nikolay Strunnikov

In 1910, Moscovite Nikolay Strunnikov became the first international speed skating champion from Russia. Skating in an all-black outfit, he beat the legendary Oscar Mathisen in both the European and World Championships 1910. He was also a double champion in 1911, be it without competition from Oscar Mathisen, who was disqualified for being a professional that season. That year, he won all four distances at both the European and the World Championships.

In 1911 he went below Jaap Eden's 1894 5000 m World Record in a race at Frogner Stadium. Because he raced out of competition in a country match between Norway and Sweden, his time of 8.37,2 was not officially recognized as a World Record until 1967. As far as one knows Strunnikov did not lose a single race this season. He did not compete in international championships after this because of a dispute with the Russian federation, but he continued his sports career, and he was a very good track cyclist for several years. He won four Russian titles, three in speed skating (from 1908 to 1910), and one in cycling, in 1909. In 1924, he was the referee for the first National Championships of the Soviet Union. Until his death in 1940, Strunnikov was a coach.

Highest rank on the Adelskalender: 2 (1911-1912)

Last updated on 29 November 2005 by Bjarte Hetland.

International Championship Results

| | Result | Distance | Date | Tournament | Venue | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | 1 | Allround Men | 27 February 1910 | European Championships Men 1910 | Viipuri | | | 1 | Allround Men | 6 March 1910 | World Championships Men 1910 | Helsinki | | | 1 | Allround Men | 19 February 1911 | European Championships Men 1911 | Hamar | | | 1 | Allround Men | 26 February 1911 | World Championships Men 1911 | Trondheim |

World Records