In speed skating there are long and short speed skating races.
Long races are called ‘speed skating’ and only two skaters race at a time.
Short races are called ‘short track’ and four to six skaters race at a time.
The winners of all events are the skaters with the fastest times.
In competition, speed skaters compete over different distances. There are short track speed skating races, long track speed skating races and marathon speed skating races.
At the Olympics the long track races are called 'speed skating' and the short track speed skating races are known as 'short track'
In speed skating on a long track, two competitors skate at a same time.Skaters race around a 400-metre oval with two lanes, over distances ranging from 500 metres to 10 000 metres. Each skater must stay in his or her own lane but the two must swap lanes after each lap so that they both cover the same distance.
Only two speed skaters compete at the same time. © Getty Images
Using their arms for balance on the curves, they crouch low, taking long, smooth strides. Speed skaters can reach speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour. They race against each other but after all the skaters have had their turn, the one with the fastest time wins the competition.
In indoor racing events, speed skaters wear helmets and close-fitting clothing. Getty
In short track events four to six skaters race at the same time.
In a speed skating event known as team pursuit, two teams of three skaters race at a time, starting at a line in the middle of the straightaway. One team starts on each side of the track. Only the inner lane is used. The distance is eight laps for men and six for women. The team's time is the third skater to cross the finish line.
In the speed skating marathon event, skaters skate in a large group, and they skate long distances. When the marathon is in an ice rink oval, the distance is usually around 40 kilometres.
All speed skaters wear body-hugging clothing and helmets to reduce wind resistance.
History of speed skating
In the Netherlands and Scandinavia, thousands of years ago, the native peoples put bones to their shoes and used them to skate on frozen rivers, canals and lakes. For them it was a means of getting from one place to another. Skating for fun came later, in the 16th century.
In 1592, a Scotsman designed a skate with an iron blade. The use of iron-bladed skates led to the spread of skating for fun and competition.
The first official skating club was The Skating Club Of Edinburgh. And in 1763 the first official speed skating race was organized in England.
By the start of the 20th century, skating and speed skating had become an internationally popular sporting activity.
Speed skating was an Olympic sport in 1924. Short track speed skating became an official Olympic event in 1992.
The skates worn for speed skating. ©Dreamstime
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Read more about speed skating
https://www.rulesofsport.com/sports/speed-skating.html
https://contentbash.com/speed-skating-rules-history-facts-winter-olympics/
