Speed skating has been an Olympic sport since the beginning of the Winter Games in 1924. Zipping around an ice track at up to 30 miles per hour, speed skaters live life in the fast lane!

The Rules of the Game
There are five different kinds of speed skating races with different divisions for men and women. Some are short sprints, like the 500-meter, and others are tests of endurance, like the men's 10,000-meter race. Skaters race two at a time against the clock, and the winner is always the skater with the fastest time.

In order to be the quickest, skaters wear skin-tight racing suits with hoods that decrease air resistance. Skaters also wear special skates featuring hinged blades with springs attached to each boot. This helps the skater keep the blade on the ice longer while racing.

By Emily Ponder