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Speed skating
Speed on a 400-metre ice oval — Almaty's mountain rink at Medeu is famous for dozens of world records.
In speed skating athletes race in pairs against the clock on a 400-metre ice oval over distances from 500 to 10,000 metres; team pursuit and mass start are also Olympic events. Long-bladed clap skates carry skaters to speeds of 60 km/h.
History
Racing on skates was a folk pastime in the Netherlands for centuries. Men have raced since the first Winter Olympics in 1924 and women since 1960. Competitions are run by the International Skating Union (ISU).
Major competitions
The Olympic Games, the ISU World Single Distances, Allround and Sprint Championships and the World Cup.
Speed skating in the Turkic world
Medeu, near Almaty at 1,691 metres above sea level, is one of the world's most famous high-altitude skating rinks: thanks to clean mountain air and hard ice, dozens of world records have been set there. Kazakh skaters compete in the World Cup and at the Olympics.
Sources
Updated: October 11, 2026