Short+Track



**Short Track Speed Skating **  How many of you know about Short Track Speed Skating? Not many of you. I didn’t know either. How about the Olympics? That is better! This is what I have found out about short track speed skating. Short Track Speed Skating started in Europe at the end of the 19th century. In 1906, Canada, Europe, and the United States played annually. Later it became a Winter Olympic sport. One thing that separates Short Track Speed Skating from other skating sports is the equipment. The boots are custom made and have blades that are bigger then the boots. The gloves have little metal balls on the finger tips so that you can glide arose the ice with them. There are helmets and protective gear so if you fall you will not get hurt. The most important part of the protective gear is the skin suits. They hug the skin so nothing drags on the ice. They also resist drag in the air so you go faster.

In Short Track, 1 lap is 111.12 meters. There are 8 events. There is the 500 meter, 1000 meter, and the 1500 meter for both men and women. The women get a 3000 meter relay, and men get a 5000 meter relay. The 500 meter is 4 ½ laps, 1000 meter is 9 laps, the 1500 meter is 13 ½ laps, the women’s 3000 meter relay is 27 laps and the men’s 5000 meter relay is 45 laps! Think of all the skating! There are a lot of people in Short Track. One is Nicolas Bean, skating for Italy. Another is Robert Becker, he skates for Germany. The next one is Olga BelYakora, she performs for the Russian Federation. The last one is our very own Apollo Anton Ohno. Short track is a very intense sport. I learned a lot during the project. I hope you learned more a lot the Olympics too. 