Short track speed skating

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500 metres short track heat at the 2004 World Cup in Saguenay

Short track speed skating (also Shorttrack speedskating) is a form of competitive ice skating similar to speed skating. In competitions, multiple skaters (typically between four and six) skate on an oval ice track with a circumference of 111,12 m. The rink itself is 60 m by 30 m, which is the same size as an international-sized hockey rink.

History

Short track speed skating originates in the speed skating events held with mass starts. This form of speed skating was mainly practiced in the United States and Canada, as opposed to the international form, where skaters skated in pairs. At the 1932 Winter Olympics, speed skating events were conducted in the mass start form. Competitions in North America were also held indoors, for example in Madison Square Garden, New York, and therefore on shorter tracks than was usual for outdoor skating.

In 1967, the International Skating Union adopted short track speed skating, although it did not organise international competitions until 1976. World Championships have been held since 1981 though earlier events later also received that status. At the 1988 Winter Olympics, held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, short track was a demonstration sport. It was upgraded to a full Olympic sport in 1992 and has been part of the Winter Olympics since.

Canada and South Korea have long been the dominant countries in the sport, but currently the sport is also highly popular in many Asian countries, notably The Republic of Korea,The People's Republic of China, and Japan. With smaller ice tracks and shorter, often spectacular competitions, short track speed skating has grown more popular than the older long track in many countries.

Notable skaters

External links

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