Olympic speedskating is a fast-paced ice racing sport where athletes compete to complete set distances in the shortest time. Competitors race on an oval ice track, typically against the clock rather than directly against opponents, with the goal of achieving the fastest time. The sport is divided into two disciplines: long track speed skating, which takes place on a 400-meter oval, and Olympic short track, which is held on a smaller, 111.12-meter rink with multiple skaters racing at once.
Speedskating made its Olympic debut at the Olympic Winter Games Chamonix 1924, as one of the original sports on the program. Women’s events were later introduced at the Olympic Winter Games Squaw Valley 1960. Speed skating in the Olympics has since evolved with the introduction of new race formats, including the mass start event, which debuted at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.
Team USA has a storied history in Olympic speed skating, with American skaters winning numerous medals since the sport’s debut. Charles Jewtraw won the first gold medal for Team USA Speed Skain in the men’s 500-meter at Chamonix 1924. Notable U.S. athletes include Eric Heiden, who won five gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games Lake Placid 1980, Apolo Ohno, a dominant force in Olympic short track with eight Olympic medals and Bonnie Blair who has six Olympic medals across four Games.
There are two disciplines within Olympic speedskating: long track and short track. Long track events are time trials where skaters race in pairs against the clock, while Olympic short track features multiple skaters racing in tight packs, leading to dynamic and strategic competitions. Long track races include distances ranging from 500 meters to 10,000 meters, as well as team pursuit and mass start races. Olympic short track events include 500m, 1,000m, 1,500m, the mixed relay and team relays.
Follow along the speedskaters' road to the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Check out all the events Team USA athletes will be competing in on the road to Milano Cortina 2026.
| name | sport | Education | hometown | age | Medals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Speedskating | Clifton Park, NY | 32 | ||||||
 | Speedskating | Auburn High School | Auburn, WA | 21 | |||||
 Maame Biney Olympian 2018, 2022 Sport: Speedskating Education: University of Utah Hometown: Reston, VA Age: 25 | Speedskating | University of Utah | Reston, VA | 25 | |||||
 Giorgia Birkeland Olympian 2022 Sport: Speedskating Education: Salt Lake Community College Hometown: White Bear Lake, MN Age: 23 | Speedskating | Salt Lake Community College | White Bear Lake, MN | 23 | |||||
 Bonnie Blair Olympian 1984, 1988, 1992, 1994 Sport: Speedskating Education: Centennial High School (Champaign, Ill.) Hometown: Champaign, IL Age: 61 Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| Speedskating | Centennial High School (Champaign, Ill.) | Champaign, IL | 61 | Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| ||||
 Brianna Bocox Sport: Speedskating Education: Burns High School Senior at Utah Valley University Hometown: Cheyenne, Wyo. Age: 28 | Speedskating | Burns High School Senior at Utah Valley University | Cheyenne, Wyo. | 28 | |||||
 Brittany Bowe Olympian 2014, 2018, 2022 Sport: Speedskating Education: Florida Atlantic University ‘10 Hometown: Ocala, FL Age: 37 Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| Speedskating | Florida Atlantic University ‘10 | Ocala, FL | 37 | Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| ||||
 McKenzie Browne Sport: Speedskating Education: Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Hometown: Coopersburg, PA Age: 30 | Speedskating | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Coopersburg, PA | 30 | |||||
 | Speedskating |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 32 | |||||
 J.R. Celski Olympian 2010, 2014, 2018 Sport: Speedskating Hometown: Federal Way, WA Age: 35 Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| Speedskating | Federal Way, WA | 35 | Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
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Speed skates have long, thin blades designed for maximum glide efficiency and control. Long track skates feature clap-blades that detach at the heel to allow for longer strides, while Olympic short track skates have curved blades for tighter turns.
Long track speedskating takes place on a 400-meter oval, while Olympic short track events occur on a 111.12-meter track within a standard ice rink.
