Apolo Ohno – Short Track Speed Skating

Apolo Ohno made all us wonder what exactly short track speed skating was about. Short track speed skating has a long history and even longer rules. The 1932 Olympic Winter games is where short track speed skating truly got its start. At the time speed skating was typically done in pairs, but this time the Americans decided to conduct one event with all the skaters skating at once. Europeans weren’t a fan and ended up boycotting the games, but eventually in 1967 the International Skating Union included short track speed skating in future games. On the other hand it was only a demonstration sport in the 1988 Winter Olympics, not becoming a full sport until the 1992 Winter Olympics. In 1992 short track speed skating only consisted of four events, which was then expanded in 2002 to eight events. In took awhile for short track speed skating to be accepted and practiced internationally but was well worth the wait for both competitors and fans alike.
 

What keeps this sport standing is its’ rules, because without them speed skating could be even a more dangerous and harmful sport. First of all, speed skating is supposed to be a non-contact sport, calling for the skaters’ ability to dodge other skaters, requiring certain finesse. In competitions there are usually between 4-6 skaters all skating at once. The goal is to race as fast and far as possible, requiring lots of discipline and stamina.
 

There are several rules that you must follow or you will be penalized. One thing you are not allowed to do is impede other skaters in any way such as, pushing, blocking, or tripping. You are also not allowed to skate outside the designated skate zone. Another big no-no is any form of conspiring with other members to help yourselves to win, but this is not usually enforced as it is difficult to prove. Most other rules involve safety, such as being penalized for not wearing the required safety equipment or shooting the line, meaning that you drive the foot in lead ahead to reach the finish line faster thus making the lead foot lift off the ice, creating a dangerous atmosphere for fellow skaters, as the blades on the skates are very sharp.

Short track speed skating has come a long way in the past few decades and is now one of the most interesting events to watch during the Winter Olympics.