Short Track Speed Skating: Olympic history, rules, latest updates and upcoming events for the Olympic sport

What is short track speed skating?

Short track speed skating is a thrilling, high-speed sport where athletes race directly against each other rather than competing for the fastest time. The sport takes place on a compact, oval track measuring just 111 metres in length (roughly the size of an ice hockey rink) making for tight turns, rapid accelerations, and dramatic overtakes. Unlike traditional long track speed skating, where competitors race in pairs, short track features multiple skaters on the ice at once, leading to intense pack racing where strategy, agility, and quick decision-making are just as important as raw speed.

Short track speed skating traces its origins to Canada and the United States, where skaters began competing in mass-start races on smaller indoor rinks in the early 1900s. With limited access to full-sized 400-metre tracks, athletes adapted their racing style to fit the shorter track, developing techniques to navigate the tight corners and unpredictable dynamics of pack racing.

Although short track speed skating was widely practised in North America, it took decades for the sport to gain international recognition. European and Asian nations, including Great Britain, France, Belgium, Japan, and Australia, played a crucial role in expanding its reach by participating in international competitions before the discipline was formally recognised. In 1967, the International Skating Union (ISU) officially acknowledged short track speed skating as a distinct sport, paving the way for world championships and increased global participation.

Short track races feature four to eight skaters competing in heats, with the top finishers advancing to the next round. Because of the sharp corners and high speeds, skaters use specialised boots with taller blades for extra stability, and protective gear including helmets, gloves, and padding is essential. Races vary in distance, with individual events ranging from 500 metres to 3,000 metres, while team relays cover 3,000 metres for women and 5,000 metres for men.

The sport’s unpredictable nature makes it one of the most exciting events in the Olympic Winter Games. With daring overtakes, sudden falls, and photo-finish sprints, short track speed skating is a spectacle where anything can happen in the blink of an eye.

Olympic history of speed skating

Short track speed skating made its first appearance at the Olympic Winter Games as a demonstration sport at Calgary 1988. Just four years later, at Albertville 1992, it was officially added to the Olympic programme with two individual events and two relays.

The sport’s Olympic debut was an instant success, captivating spectators with its high-speed pack racing and dramatic overtakes. As its popularity grew, the programme expanded, and by Turin 2006, short track featured a total of eight medal events: four for men and four for women.

The mixed team relay was added in Beijing 2022.

With skaters racing in close quarters, collisions and falls are common, adding to the sport’s dramatic appeal. To enhance safety, Olympic short track venues have padded walls, ensuring that the action remains fast, furious, and safe.

Short track speed skaters to watch at Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

Kristen Santos-Griswold is back for her second Olympic Winter Games, fuelled by a hunger for redemption. Her Beijing 2022 campaign ended in heartbreak after a crash in the 1000m final, a moment so devastating she nearly walked away from the sport. Instead, she returned with renewed purpose, and the results have been nothing short of spectacular. In the 2024–25 ISU Short Track World Tour, she dominated the circuit, claiming the women’s Crystal Globe and excelling in the 500m. She then delivered the ultimate statement at the 2024 World Championships, seizing gold in the 1000m and cementing her place as a top contender for Milano Cortina 2026.

Canada’s William Dandjinou has followed a similar trajectory, rising from Olympic reserve in 2022 to one of the most dangerous skaters on the ice. With his versatility across all distances, he tore through the 2024–25 season, capturing the men’s Crystal Globe as the overall champion. His defining moment came at the World Championships in Rotterdam, where he stormed to gold in the 1000m. Now, as he prepares for his Olympic debut, the towering Canadian will have the field chasing him. If all goes to plan, he will be the one soaring with his trademark eagle celebration in Milano Cortina.

One of his biggest rivals, Jens van ’t Wout, has been right alongside him, battling for podiums throughout the season. The Dutch skater’s explosive speed and sharp tactical instincts make him a threat in every race. He already left his mark on Beijing 2022, helping the Netherlands set an Olympic record in the mixed 2000m relay, but he is hungry for more. With multiple European and World Championship titles to his name, van ’t Wout enters the Olympic season as a force to be reckoned with.

No skater at Milano Cortina 2026 will carry more Olympic history than Italy’s Arianna Fontana. Already the most decorated short track speed skater of all time, with 11 Olympic medals, Fontana is preparing for what could be her final chapter on home ice. But she is not content with merely adding to her collection of medals. She, alongside the Netherlands' Suzanne Schulting, is taking on an even greater challenge by competing in long track as well, attempting a rare and gruelling double. With the Italian crowd behind her, Fontana’s farewell tour could be something truly special.

Meanwhile, Park Ji-won of the Republic of Korea is finally poised for his long-awaited Olympic breakthrough. Despite dominating the men’s circuit since the 2022–23 season, he has yet to compete on the Olympic stage, having narrowly missed selection in both 2018 and 2022. But rather than letting those setbacks define him, Park has turned frustration into fuel, climbing to the top of the world rankings with razor-sharp racecraft and unshakable confidence. Milano Cortina 2026 is his chance to prove he belongs among the sport’s legends, and if recent form is any indication, he is more than ready for the spotlight.

His compatriot, Choi Min-jeong, is also back in the hunt for gold. The three-time Olympic champion and four-time world champion recently reaffirmed her place on the podium by winning three gold medals at the Winter Asian Games and leading the Republic of Korea to victory in the ISU Short Track World Tour’s 2000m mixed relay in Seoul. After stepping away from international competition in 2023–24 to refine her technique and give herself a much-needed mental and physical reset, she returns fully recharged and ready to reclaim her throne as the queen of short track.

Short track speed skating at Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

The short track speed skating competition at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games will feature 112 athletes (56 men and 56 women) competing in nine events:

Short track speed skating at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will take place from 10 to 20 February 2026.