The race to the short track competition in Milan Cortina continues.

Following its season openers in Montreal, Canada, the World Tour will make its third stop Nov. 20-23, this time in Gdansk, Poland.

For skaters, this year's World Tour brings even more pressure than usual. Not only does it serve as the primary way to earn qualifying points for the upcoming Winter Olympics, as per usual, but the circuit also has been shortened from six events to four in order to conclude before the Games arrive in February, meaning each race carries more weight than in seasons past. 

After two back-to-back standout performances on home ice, Canada nearly leads every field: William Dandjinou, last year’s men’s Crystal Globe winner, and Courtney Sarault stand on top of the overall standings for men and women, respectively, both ahead nearly by 100 points. The country also owns the No. 1 spot both in the mixed and men’s relays, as well as 2nd in the women’s relay. Stephen Dubois, who has skated to the podium once in each individual distance this season, sits in 3rd in the overall men’s standings.

Corinne Stoddard enters World Tour No. 3 as Sarault’s biggest threat. In 2nd place overall, Stoddard is the top-ranked American, boasting No. 2 rankings in the 1000m and 1500m, as well as 3rd in the 500m. Through the first-two stops, she reached the podium in four of her six races (1 silver, 3 bronze).

Sitting three spots behind her in 5th overall is teammate Kristen Santos-Griswold. At the first World Tour stop, the reigning Crystal Globe champion was hindered by a series of slips and crashes which kept her off the podium entirely. She rebounded the next weekend, collecting bronze in the 500m and 1500m. 

Five-time Olympic medalist Choi Min-Jeong and 2023-24 Crystal Globe champion Gil-Li Kim, both of whom represent historic short track juggernaut South Korea, are in 4th and 6th place, respectively. 

Italy’s Arianna Fontana will sit another stop out after a pulled hip flexor sustained at the first World Tour forced her to miss the second, as well as Italy’s roster selection event for speed skating, diminishing (though not entirely eradicating) Fontana’s chances at making both Olympic rosters as she originally had planned. 

However, the upcoming Olympic hosts have another powerhouse in Pietro Sighel, who sits between Dandjinou and Dubois in the Crystal Globe rankings. The two-time Olympic medalist took gold in the 1000m and silver in the 500m at the season opener.

Korean skater Rim Jong-Un, the 17-year-old who jolted the men’s 1500m field by skating to gold in his first-ever World Tour appearance in Montreal, currently is the world No. 6. 

The United States’ top man is Brandon Kim, ranked 15th overall.

The International Olympic Committee will award each eligible country its designated number of quota spots, based on the performances of each country’s athletes, Dec. 12, 2025. At that point, countries may nominate athletes to their respective Olympic rosters.

After two qualification days Nov. 20 and 21, the final rounds of the competition begin Saturday, Nov. 22 at 8:05 a.m. ET and conclude Nov. 23.

All events from Days 3 and 4 are available to watch on mobile, tablet and connected TV devices via Peacock.