Beijing 2022: Short Track Speed Skating

Short track speed skating is an ice sport that combines speed, skill, techniques and wisdom.

During a competition, athletes wear skinsuits and specially designed skates. Helmets must be regular without any protrusions, and gloves must be cut-resistant. Contrasting clap skates used in speed skating, the skates in short track speed skating feature a higher cut to give athletes more support. Each blade must have at least two points fixed to the boot and no movable part. Short track speed skating takes place on a 111.12-metre oval track on a rink measuring 30m×60m. Walls around the track are cushioned with mats to protect athletes skating at high speed. Black rubber blocks mark each curve. Athletes are required to skate outside the blocks when they enter the curves but there is no restriction when they skate on straight tracks.

The overall winner is the skater having attained the highest rank. Progression on each distance from first round to the finals will be by elimination. For individual races of 500m and 1,000m, each group consists of four skaters. The top two or three skaters advance to the next round. The finals take place after four rounds (eighth-finals, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the finals), and whoever is the fastest wins. For individual races of 1,500m, each group consists of six skaters. The top two or three skaters in each race advance to the next round. Finalists are ranked after three-round competitions (quarter-finals, semi-finals and the finals).

Both men’s and women’s relay races have eight teams, each composed of four skaters. Mixed gender relay races have three rounds. Each team must have two female and two male athletes. A team has to skate 2,000 metres, which is 18 laps. The first two skaters must be female and the final two must be male, and no substitutions are allowed.

Copyright: Guide to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022– A Celebration on Ice and Snow