The

International Skating Union The International Skating Union (ISU) is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, N ...

has organised the

World Allround Speed Skating Championships The World Allround Speed Skating Championships are a series of speed skating events held annually to determine the best allround speed skater of the world. The event is held over two days, with all skaters entering the first three distances (500 m, ...

for Women since 1936. Unofficial championships were held in the years 1933–1935.

History

Distances used

* In the years 1933–1935, three distances were skated: 500 m, 1000 m and 1500 m. * In the years 1936–1955, four distances were skated: 500 m, 1000 m, 3000 m and 5000 m (the '' old combination''). * In the years 1956–1982, four distances were skated: 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m and 3000 m (the '' mini combination''). * Since 1983, four distances are skated: 500 m, 1500 m, 3000 m and 5000 m (the '' small combination'').

Ranking systems used

* Since 1933, the

samalog Samalog (or samalogue in UK spelling; sometimes sammenlagt in both Norwegian and Danish: "put together", "total sum") is a scoring system in speed skating. It is used in allround tournaments to convert results at various distances into points in o ...

system has been in use.

Records

* Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann (nee Kleemann) of East Germany won a total of 8 world championship titles, three consecutive in 1991–1993, and another five consecutive titles in 1995–1999. *

Ireen Wüst Irene Karlijn (Ireen) Wüst (; born 1 April 1986) is a Dutch former long track speed skater. Wüst became the most successful speed skating olympian ever by achieving at least one gold medal in each of five consecutive Winter Olympic appearances ...

has a record 13 medals, 12 of each which were won in consecutive championships (2007–2018) – seven golds (2007, 2011–2014, 2017, 2020), four silvers (2008, 2015, 2016, 2018) and two bronzes (2009, 2010). Previously, this record belonged to

Claudia Pechstein Claudia Pechstein (born 22 February 1972) is a German speed skater. She has won five Olympic gold medals. With a total of nine Olympic medals, five gold, two silver and two bronze, she was the most successful Olympic speed skater, male or fema ...

of Germany – 11 medals in consecutive championships (1996–2006) with one gold (2000), eight silvers (1996–1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006) and two bronzes (2002, 2005).

Medal winners

Unofficial championships

Official championships

All-time medal count

Unofficial World Championships of 1933–1935 (not recognized by the ISU) included

Multiple medalists

Boldface denotes active skaters and highest medal count among all skaters (including those not included in these tables) per type. * including one medal won at the unofficial championship of 1935.

Notes

References

{{Sports country lists, state=collapsed Allround All-round speed skating Recurring sporting events established in 1936