Speed skating is one of the few indoor sports in the Winter Olympics. There is short track speed skating and long track speed skating. Short track takes place on a track that measures only 111 meters. The short track normally has four to six athletes racing at a time, focusing on sharp turns and strategy. Long track speed skating is held within a 400 meter oval where only two athletes race in separate lanes. Short track is based on placement within the group of racers while long track is against the clock. This means your time is compared to athletes from different races, not just the one that the athlete competed in. The Netherlands dominated this sport with ten of their 20 medals being gold. Italy who was in second didn’t even have half the amount of medals the Netherlands did with only nine, four of which were gold. Canada placed third with two of their ten medals being gold.
