What is Speed Skating?
Speed skating is an winter sport in which competitors race each other on an ice rink. The athletes use ice skates to propel themselves in laps around the rink for a certain distance. There are many different events in the Winter Olympic Games for speed skating (long track) and short track speed skating. The 500, 1000, 1500, 3000, 5000, and 10,000 men and women meter races are some of the many contests. A total of 20 sets of medals are awarded at the Winter Olympics for these two sports, 12 for long track and 8 for short track.
Speed skating is an winter sport in which competitors race each other on an ice rink. The athletes use ice skates to propel themselves in laps around the rink for a certain distance. There are many different events in the Winter Olympic Games for speed skating (long track) and short track speed skating. The 500, 1000, 1500, 3000, 5000, and 10,000 men and women meter races are some of the many contests. A total of 20 sets of medals are awarded at the Winter Olympics for these two sports, 12 for long track and 8 for short track.
Team Pursuit
Team pursuit is played with two teams of three skaters that circle around the rink eight times (men) or six times (women). The teams skate 2400 meters (women) or 3200 meters (men). The competition is set up with a qualifying round and then elimination rounds. The winners of each round move on to the next round and so on until the finals. The final time for a team is recorded when the last teammate crosses the finish line. If two teams start on opposing sides of the rink and one passes the other, the race is over and the passing team wins. If both teams start in the same place, whichever team finishes first, wins. |
Long Track Speed Skating
Speed skating is also known as long track speed skating by the International Skating Union (ISU). It includes longer races than short track along with team pursuit. In speed skating only two athletes race on a track while trying to beat a time and the other competitor. Whether an athlete advances to the next round or not is based on the time it takes them to finish the race. Their times are compared to other athletes in previous heats. It was included in the first Winter Olympic Games of 1924 at Chamonix, France and is among the most anticipated events in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games. |
Short Track Speed Skating
Short track speed skating uses a 111.12 meter ice rink (~364.5 feet). In short track, all athletes are competing against one another rather than a clock, even if they are from the same country. The heats can have four to six people racing at once in 500, 1000, 1500 (men and women), 3000 (women), and 5000 (men) meter races. The 5000 and 3000 meter races are done in a relay format. One member from each team skates around the track twice, meets up with another teammate, and pushes them into the race. |
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