Speed Skating

Speed Skating

Speed skating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in travelling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating. In the Olympic Games, long-track speed skating is usually referred to as just “speed skating”, while short-track speed skating is known as “short track”. The International Skating Union (ISU), the governing body of both ice sports, refers to long track as “speed skating” and short track as “short track skating”.

An international federation was founded in 1892, the first for any winter sport. The sport enjoys large popularity in the Netherlands, Norway and South Korea. There are top international rinks in several other countries, including Canada, the United States, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Belarus and Poland.

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Age categories

30+, 35+,40+,45+,50+,55+,60+,65+,70+,75+, 80+,85+,90+,95+

The age category of the skater will be defined as the skater’s age prior to 1st July of the year of the event. Each skater has to compete in her/ his respective age category.

Events and disciplines

Long Track

500m
1000m
1500m
3000m
5000m
10000m

Marathon

7,5 km
25km
50 km

“The IMGA doesn’t allow building new venues and encourages the host cities to use existing facilities to keep the costs lower. Therefore, all sport information is subject to changes depending on the venues available.”

Athlete Comments & Reviews

“I compete to be healthy, inspired by the older athletes”

“The first year I competed in the Swiss Masters Athletics, the guys that were 60 – 65 – 70 years old, they were my inspiration. I switched my mind to say: I still compete but I want to be healthy the rest of my life. They are the models.”

“They are absolutely smashing it!”

“It’s so incredible to see what people are capable of way beyond their younger years into later on in life. You see it here in these international competitions as well; who are so fast, they are not just participating, they’re absolutely smashing it. Across so many different sports. People are incredible with what they’re achieving.”

“These Games are for everyone!”

“There’s a lot of positives to play these tournaments and as I said before it’s more about participation, it’s about the vibe, just enjoying playing sport, regardless of the standard. There is something there for everyone. Everyone can join in.”

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