Short track skating is one of the most exciting winter sports. Unlike many racing events, where athletes compete against the clock, short track speed skating is a competition that's solely between the people on the ice for that particular race. The high speeds and tight turns on the track provide an element of fear and anxiety in every race, since one bump can eliminate a skater's chance for victory.
History
Short track skating was formally adopted as an international sport by the International Skating Union in 1967, but it didn't become a full medal sport until the 1992 Winter Olympics. It was an exhibition sport at the 1988 Winter Olympics. The ISU has also sponsored World Championship competitions every year since 1981.
The Track
Short track skating events are held on a track that has a circumference of a little more than 121 yards (111 m). Long-track speed skating, on the other hand, takes place on a track that is about 437 yards around, although rinks that are about 273 yards around are sometimes used for long-track events. During short track sprints, the skaters tend to stay in a closely packed group. In the longer races, such as the 3,000 m or 5,000 m, skaters may give each other a little more room, though not too much relief is given -- it can be difficult to make up a lot of lost time.
Events
Men and women compete in individual and relay short-track events. The individual events are the 500 m, 1,000 m, 1,500 m and the 3,000 m. The men's 5,000 m relay features four teams of four skaters, with each skater racing an equal distance. When it's time for a new skater to join the race, his teammate (who's already on the track) gives the new skater a push for a little extra momentum. The women's relay is 3,000 m.
Equipment
Because of the threat and frequency of collisions and falls on the ice, short track skaters wear hard helmets. The skaters also wear gloves, as their hands touch the ice frequently when they go around turns and when they are maintaining their balance during the bumping that can occur. Inside their skin-tight suits (meant to cut down on wind resistance), skaters may also wear protective padding for their shins and knees. Many skaters also favor goggles to help reduce the risk of ice chips or other foreign objects getting in their eyes.
Athletes
Short track speed skaters tend to be shorter than traditional speed skaters, since short track skaters benefit from a shorter stride. America's most decorated male short track skater through the 2010 Winter Olympics is Apolo Anton Ohno, who has won eight medals -- the most won by an American in the Winter Olympics. One of the most successful female short track skaters is Yang Yang of China, who won six world championships in a row between 1997 and 2002. Yang also won two gold medals in the 2002 Winter Olympics, making her China's first gold medal winner.
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