Speed Skating - What's It All About? 6h3sc
People have been racing each other on ice skates for hundreds of years - but it wasn't until 1889 that the first World Championships for speed skating were held in the Netherlands. In Olympic speed skating, athletes race around a 400 meter oval track for distances from 500 meters up to 10,000 meters. Skaters race against each other in pairs, with the skater who finishes with the fastest time being the winner. In short track speed skating, athletes race around a much smaller track (110 meters) in groups of four to six. Short track speed skating is a more exciting spectator sport because the athletes move faster and there are often nasty collisions on the ice.
Speed Skating - Getting Started g6s20
Speed skating is a fast and fun sport that is a great way to build leg strength and improve your ice hockey players and cyclists. Unfortunately, there aren't very many speed skating ovals in the United States - so unless you live near one, you may find it difficult to get involved in this exciting sport.
Speed Skating - Did You Know? 626f4p
- inline skating.
- In short track speed skating, athletes reach speeds of more than 25 miles per hour (40 km.)
- At the 1980 Winter Olympics, Eric Heiden set a world record by winning 5 gold medals in speed skating.
