WINTER OLYMPICS SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING

OLYMPIC SPORT SINCE 1992

SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING races began to occur in Europe shortly after speed skating became an established international sport. The International Skating Union was founded in 1892, three years after the first long-track World Championships.

Prior to the arrival of short track at the Olympics, it was common for skaters to compete in short and long-track events. Short track ovals were covered and offered a place for skaters to train all year. Many long-track racers would practice sprinting and turning techniques around the small oval. Some even competed in short track competitions. With the development of new indoor long-track facilities, the cross-sport training is not as popular anymore. Also, now that short track has become established as an Olympic sport, racers have been forced to specialize to succeed.

Short track speed skating made its first Olympic appearance at the 1988 Calgary Games as a demonstration sport and featured 10 events. The sport's popularity was immediately apparent. The IOC admitted short track to the Olympic program in 1992 but limited it to one individual and one relay event for men and women in Albertville (men's 1000 meters, women's 500, and the men's and women's relays).

Following the success of its Olympic debut, short track was expanded to six events in Lillehammer in 1994, with the men and women competing in the 500, 1000 and relay. The program has once again been expanded for the Salt Lake Games, with the IOC adding the men's and women's 1500 for a total of eight events.

Although short track made its official Olympic debut in 1992, pack-style speed skating appeared in the Olympics in 1932 at Lake Placid. All speed skating events that year were competed in a format similar to that of present-day short track - much to the dismay of the Europeans. Some skaters were so upset with the format that they refused to compete, including five-time champion Clas Thunberg of Finland.

COMPETITION
At the Olympic Games, Short Track Speed Skating consists of eight events. Men and women compete in 500m, 1000m, and 1500m. There is a 5000m relay for men, and a 3000m relay for women.

Skaters compete not against the clock, but against each other. Four skaters compete in a race with those placed first and second advancing to the next round. Winning depends to a considerable extent on a racer's strategic skill over an opponent.

Short track speed skating is an elimination event in which athletes race in packs and try to outskate and outwit fellow competitors within their heats. Eventually, the field is narrowed to a handful of finalists. The first one to cross the finish line is the winner. Time is secondary. In fact, Olympic and world records have been set in non-medal heats.

Individual competitions begin with 32 athletes. Individual heats feature four skaters at a time in a mass start. Athletes skate counter-clockwise, and the first two across the finish line advance to the next round. Sometimes more than two advance, depending on the number of heats and the nature of any disqualifications.

The men's and women's short track relays are two-day competitions consisting of a semi-final and a final. Eight teams are divided into two heats of four. The top two teams in each semi-final advance to the final.

VERIFIED FEB 25, 2002

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