"Speed skating is one of the longest-running sports in the Winter Olympics - part of the original set of nine sports at the first 1924 Winter Games in Chamonix, France. The traditional, long track version (often just referred to as "speed skating") features athletes skating against a single opponent, racing against the clock, around a 400m oval though the team pursuit, added to the Olympics in 2006, and the mass start, added in 2018, start with more skaters on the track"
"Racers say it's a very different sport. "While we also skate fast and turn left, there's way more variability to it," says Kristen Santos-Griswold, a short track skater who's competing in the 2026 Winter Games. The races are in crowded heats against other people, instead of a single race against the clock. The skate blades are shorter and more maneuverable, and the kits they wear include helmets, due to the risk of crashing."
The United States has historic speed skating champions such as Eric Heiden, who won five individual golds in 1980; Bonnie Blair, a dominant four-time Olympian; and Apolo Ohno, who earned eight career Winter Olympic medals. Speed skating has been part of the Winter Olympics since 1924. Long track takes place on a 400m oval with skaters racing the clock, while team pursuit (added 2006) and mass start (added 2018) feature more simultaneous skaters. Short track uses a 111.12m oval, many skaters per race, and official Olympic status since 1992. Short-track racing involves crowded heats, shorter maneuverable blades, and helmets. Jordan Stolz did not medal in 2022 but has been described as dominant since the last Olympics.
Read at www.npr.org
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