The finer details of short track speed skating at Lausanne 2020
Everything you need to know about short track speed skating ahead of the Youth Olympic Games this January.
Short Track Speed Skating
Short track speed skating is as thrilling as it is frantic. The start is crucial, while every tight corner can provide a pivotal moment when determining the winner.
At Lausanne 2020, there will be golds on offer in the men’s and women’s 500m and 1000m. There will also be the Mixed NOC Relay: Eight teams comprising of four skaters, man and women, all from different nations.
The finer details
Skated on a 60x30m ice rink, the very specific 111.12m oval track means there are less than five ferocious laps in the 500m races. That equates to just nine turns in a race that lasts under a minute, and therefore it is essential to get an advantageous position from the start.
Skaters morph into sprinters when taking off, and those seven or so steps in under three seconds play a crucial part going into the first corner. With competitors just centimetres apart while racing at speeds reaching 50km/h, collisions are frequent.
Short track speed skating schedule at Lausanne 2020
Saturday, January 18
11:00 - 14:30 - Women's/Men's 1000m
Monday, January 20
13:00 - 16:00 - Women's/Men's 500m
Wednesday, January 22
10:00 - 11:15 - Mixed NOC Relay