India’s Anandkumar Velkumar clinched gold in the men’s 42km marathon and made history at the 2025 World Speed Skating Championships in China. he won two golds and a bronze. It is his third medal at the ongoing event. The 22-year-old Anandkumar became India’s first-ever speed skating world champion just days after taking gold in the 1000m with a record time of 1:24.92 and bronze in the 500m sprint.  

Velkumar’s journey began on a cement badminton court near his home, with humble beginnings that fueled a 15-year dream. His international breakthrough came in 2021 with a silver at the Junior World Championships a first for India followed by a bronze at the World Games earlier this year.

With this landmark performance, Velkumar has firmly placed Indian speed skating on the global map.