Skating (English speed skating - "speed skating") - a kind of sport in which the participants of the competition must overcome the distance as fast as possible in a closed circle at the ice stadium. According to archaeologists, speed skating is one of the most ancient - skates discovered during excavations are 3200 years old and most likely belonged to the Cimmerians (one of the nomadic tribes that lived in the Northern Black Sea region).

Often ice skating was reflected in painting - one of these paintings dates back to 1380. Skating is also mentioned in some written sources, the first of which, placed in Gemakh's "English-Dutch Dictionary", is dated 1648.

The world's first speed skating club was organized in Great Britain in 1742, and official competitions on this sport were held in January 1763 in the same country. Also in England, in 1772, the first book of speed skating rules was published, including practical recommendations for skaters and figure skaters. In Russia, a book of this kind, called " Winter fun and the Art of Skating with Figures "was published in 1839.

Speed ​​skating began to develop in the 50-60s of the XIX century: in 1830 a speed skating club was organized in Glasgow, in 1849 - in Philadelphia, in 1863 - in New York and Norway. Over the next 5 years, skating clubs appeared in many countries: in 1864 - in Russia, in 1865 - in France, in 1867 - in Austria, in 1868 - in Germany, in 1869 - in Hungary.

On December 8, 1879, a national speed skating championship was organized in England for the first time in the world. V mid XIX centuries, first in London, and then in other cities of Europe and America, water rinks appeared - before that athletes used to compete in speed skating and figure skating only natural reservoirs.

The first world championship in this sport took place in 1889 in Amsterdam (Netherlands). These competitions were declared professional by the International Skating Union.

In 1892, the International Skating Union - ISU (International Skating Union - ISU) was created, now it includes more than 60 national federations different countries the world. It was at the ISU Congress in Copenhagen (1895) that the Uniform Rules for Speed ​​Skating were approved.

1893 - The first official world speed skating championship for men took place in Amsterdam. In the same year, the European Championship in this sport was held. Women also actively mastered speed skating - since 1911 they participated in single races of 500 meters and in figure skating competitions.

In 1936, the world championship in speed skating among women was held, and the fair sex began to participate in the European championships only in 1970. Since 1972, the world championships in sprint all-around (500 and 1000 m) have been held.

Speed ​​skating (distances - 500, 1500, 5000, 10000 m and all-around) for men was included in the program of the first Winter Olympic Games (Chamonix (France)) in 1924, and competitions of this kind among women athletes began to be held in 1960 of the year. It should be mentioned that at the II Olympiad (1928, St. Moritz (Switzerland)) there were no all-around competitions and competitions at a distance of 10,000 m.

Nowadays, skaters compete in speed at short - 500, 1,000 (for men since 1976), and 1,500 m, and long - 3,000, 5,000 (for women since 1988), and 10,000 m distances. Speed ​​skating competitions are held on ice tracks, the length of which is 400 meters, width - 10 meters (as well as an additional 2 meters for the safety of the competitors and the convenience of snow removal), the radius of turns is 25 and 30 meters. In addition, some stadiums have internal warm-up tracks (length - 333 meters, width - 5 meters). Since the skater runs half of the circle on the inside track and the other half along the outside track, the length of the track is half the sum of the lengths of the outside and inside tracks. The distance covered by the athlete during the transition from one track to another is also taken into account. To delimit the paths, a line (width - 5 cm) is used, drawn on the ice with bright paint. On top of it, a roller of snow (width - 15 cm) is superimposed, the outer edge of which coincides with the outer edge of the marking line. In the event that the size of the ice field is not sufficient to create a standard track, the organizers of the competition can reduce the turning radius or mark a smaller track.

From each national team, 3 athletes take part in all types of competitions in speed skating (until 1972, at distances of 500 and 1500 m for men - 4 athletes). All participants in the competition are divided into pairs and walk the distance, moving counterclockwise along the ice path. The skater with the best time wins.

Types of speed skating:
... speed skating proper - a speed skating competition held on a long running track (400 m);
. figure skating- athletes (most often to music) move across the ice field, performing additional elements of various kinds (jumps, spins, supports, etc.);
... short track - an ice skating competition held on a short track (111.12 m).

In the beginning, skates were made of wood. This is not entirely true. According to archaeologists, the first skates were based on the thigh bones of animals. In the period from XIII to XVIII centuries. the base of the skates was wooden with attached runners made of iron or bronze, and a little later - of steel.

Speed ​​skating and figure skating are different types of speed skating. Indeed, at the end of the 19th century, a process of "specialization" began in the ranks of skaters - athletes appeared who preferred high-speed ice skating or figure skating. However, a complete separation took place only at the beginning of the 20th century, before that the same athletes participated in all competitions, be it figure skating or overcoming distances at speed.

In speed skating, there has never been an absolute championship in the all-around. The procedure for determining world and Olympic champions in this sport has changed several times. In the period from 1909 to 1915, in order to obtain the aforementioned title, it was really enough for a skater to win 1-2 distances and get the least number of points in the all-around. In 1926-27, the winner was the athlete who scored the largest amount of interest at 4 distances and demonstrated at least one record result. But in the period from 1915 to 1925, in particular in 1924 at the I Winter Olympics (Chamonix (France)), to determine the champion, the results demonstrated by the athletes at all 4 distances of the all-around were summed up.

Records in speed skating began to be registered in 1893. In 1893, for the first time, the titles of European champion (Swede R. Ericsson) and world champion (Dutchman Eden) were officially awarded, but records in this sport began to be registered as early as 1890, and the achievements that had taken place earlier were taken into account. World records set by women athletes have been recorded since 1929, although the first world speed skating championship for women took place only in 1936. Records for small all-around events have been registered since 1956.

The earlier a person starts speed skating, the better. No, this statement is true for figure skating. But speed skating is best to start when you are 10-11 years old.

Speed ​​skating is best done on well-frozen ice. This is not true. The ice should not be too hard, since it is in this case that the skate can adhere to the ice, which decreases as the aforementioned substance hardens further.

Ice of the same temperature and thickness is suitable for all types of speed skating. Misconception. The level of adhesion to skates, strength, the possibility of chipping, etc., depends on the ice temperature. Because for different types sports require ice of different temperatures: in figure skating - from -3 to -5 ° С (good grip with the skate is ensured), in short track - up to -6 ° С, for hockey matches you need colder ice - from -6 to -8 ° С, and on speed skating tracks the ice temperature - from -7 ° С (for sprinters) to -10 ° С (for stayer races). Ice thickness for different types speed skating is also somewhat different. For a sprint and long-distance race, a 25 mm layer of ice is sufficient, but on short track areas the ice is somewhat thicker - about 40 mm.

Ice on artificial skating rinks is always even and smooth. Unfortunately, this is not the case, especially if the rollers are homemade. And for productive speed skating sports fit it is the most even and smooth surface, which takes place only on specially prepared ice stadiums.

It takes 2-3 days to fill an ice rink in a sports complex, and you can melt the ice in a day and a half. It is really possible to melt the ice field and arrange, say, tennis courts or additional stands rather quickly. And the filling itself, according to international standards, takes no more than 3 days. but preparatory work on the ice field can take much longer. After all, before pouring ice, which in itself is a rather complex technological process, the concrete slab located at the base of the rink is carefully inspected, repaired, and polished. This process can take several weeks.

One of the athletes overcomes the entire distance along the outer path, the other along the inner path. Misconception. In order to equalize the chances of winning, skaters exchange lanes in a special zone. As a result, each of them runs half of the circle along the outer path, the other half along the inner path.

All participants in cyclic competitions (cyclists, skaters, etc.) corner the same way - away from the inner edge of the track. No, at the maximum distance from the inner edge of the track on bends, only athletes try to keep vehicles(cyclists, motorcycle racers, etc.) Since in this case they will be almost perpendicular to the track surface, the friction force will be minimal, the angle of inclination of the track surface to the horizon will be the smallest. It is this state of affairs that makes it possible for athletes to complete a turn as fast as possible. But skaters, on the contrary, try to stay closer to the inner edge of the track, since it is in this case that the resultant of three forces (friction, gravity, support reaction) cause centripetal acceleration, which means that the turnaround time is reduced to a minimum.

If the athlete falls before the finish, he cannot be declared the winner. This is not true. According to the main rule of speed skating, if an athlete's skate crosses the finish line, he will be credited with the result, even in the event of a fall.

Speed ​​skating techniques are mastered only during training on ice. Of course, these kinds of activities are extremely important. However, you shouldn't underestimate the importance of home workouts. Experts recommend that beginners first put on skates with sheathed blades and walk on the floor at home, do squats (both on two and on one leg). To this should be added walking on heels, toes, outdoor and inside feet, lunges, cross and goose stride in combination with hand swings are exercises that develop coordination and are similar in character to ice skating. Thus, a person will gain stability and confidence, which novice skaters lack so much.

The main thing is to learn how to run on the ice, moving your legs as quickly as possible. Misconception. Professional athletes do not run, but glide, making steps of the same length and using the acceleration of each step to the end. At the same time, they try to move smoothly and evenly, making strong jerks without jerking - this is the only way to develop a really high speed. An increase in cadence is observed only in running on long distances(5000 and 1000 meters), when, as a result of increasing fatigue, the pushing force decreases, and the skater has to change running tactics. However, it should be borne in mind that high-class athletes cover the entire distance without reducing speed, without changing the frequency of steps.

When running long distances, the skater feels best at the beginning, fatigue builds up towards the end of the race. Not necessary. Experts say that for 10 or 20 minutes required to cover the distance, the athlete's well-being can both deteriorate and remain stable, and sometimes even improve compared to that which took place at the very beginning of the race.

Skate models don't change very often, the latest invention is klapp skates. Indeed, when purchasing skates, you can not be afraid that after a couple of years you will have to change them to new model... However, the klapa skates that appeared in the late 90s (or flapper skates, which got their name due to the fact that the spring that returns the skate to its place, makes a characteristic sound when the skater moves), characterized in that the blade is attached to thumb feet, and not to the sole of the boot, is by no means the latest invention. In addition, there are models of skates with blades, the thickness of which is about 1.1 mm in the front and back, and 0.9 mm in the middle, which allow to increase the results shown by athletes during the competition. And in Russia, the development of the so-called adaptive skates or "adacons" (inventor - Lev Nikolayevich Aksenov), equipped with an adjusting unit that allows you to set the position of the blade in accordance with anatomical features specific person. According to the inventor, such skates will significantly increase the speed of athletes, as well as prevent various problems with the musculoskeletal system caused by the fact that all modern skates have a standard blade position (on a line running from the middle of the heel to the second toe), not always coinciding with the line of support of the foot.

The more expensive skating boots are, the easier it will be to master the wisdom of this sport. Yes, expensive boots have some undeniable advantages. For example, if a boot is made of thermoformed plastic, it can be self-adjusted exactly to the foot. It is enough to heat the shoes to a temperature of 60-70 º C (in a sauna or steam bath), put them on your feet, lace them up and shape them with your hands to match your foot, just pressing the boot tightly to your foot. Once it has cooled down, you will have a pair of shoes that are perfect for you. The high sides of the skating boots that cover the ankle give stability on ice. However, you should not think that without certain skills you will be able to easily coordinate your movements on the ice only thanks to branded shoes. To achieve certain results, it will take a lot of time to devote to training aimed at developing the muscles of the foot and lower leg, improving coordination of movements, a sense of balance, etc.

The tighter the laces are, the better. This principle is most often adhered to by beginners, who are struggling to tighten the laces at the bottom of the boot. Professionals say that in high-speed running, the leg needs some freedom. If the laces are tied so that it is impossible to move your toes, your legs will quickly get tired, and on an open skating rink they will also freeze. It is recommended to lace the boots with a cross overlap, while in the lower part the laces should not be tightened very tightly, the middle part of the shoe should be laced tighter, and the upper one should be as loose as possible. Only in this case will you be provided with comfort during a long strenuous workout.

At first, used skates are quite suitable for training. Indeed, skates can be rented and it is not very expensive - about $ 4-5 for a couple of hours. However, it should be remembered that such skates are rarely High Quality, therefore it is better to buy your own - their cost varies from $ 40 to $ 120.

Achievements of men in speed skating

Jeremy Lee Wotherspoon. Canadian athlete. Four-time champion the world. 1998 Olympics in Nagano - Silver. The author of many world-class records at distances of 500 and 1,000 meters.

On November 9, 2007 in Salt Lake City (USA), Wotherspoon covered the 500 m distance in 34:03 seconds. March 15 next year at the World Cup in Calgary, Canada 500 mx 2 - 68.31 seconds.

Shani Davis. USA. Two gold Olympic medals at 1,000 m and two silver medals at a distance of 1,500 m in 2006 and 2010. Multiple champion the world.

Records were set in 2009 in Salt Lake City:

Sven Kramer. Netherlands. Three-time Olympic champion. Six-time European champion. Multiple world champion. A swift legend at distances of 5 and 10 thousand meters. The maximum speed of a speed skater is a world record that no one has yet surpassed.

On March 10, 2007, in Salt Lake City, Sven Kramer literally flies 10,000 meters in just 12 minutes and 41.69 seconds. The very next day, this unique person puts new record Team Race: Completed 8 laps in 3 minutes and 37.80 seconds.

In Calgary on November 17, 2007, he accomplishes the impossible: two world records. Kramer covered the distance of 5000 m in 6: 03.32, and 3000 m in 3: 37.15.

Women's records in speed skating

In America, at the 2013 World Championships in Salt Lake City, they showed wonders of speed:

Two-time Olympic champion from South Korea Lee Sang Hwa ran 500 meters in 36.36 seconds (November 16)

The record for 1,500 meters was set by Canadian Cindy Klassen also in Salt Lake City, only back in 2005, on November 20. Her time is 1: 51.79. The beauty is an Olympic champion, four-time world champion and the author of 13 world records. Her achievement at 3,000 m - 3: 53.34 (Calgary, March 18, 2006) has not yet been challenged.

The record for 5000 m - 6: 42.66 in Salt Lake City was set by Czech Martina Sablikova. She became three times Olympic champion, is a multiple European and world champion.

The history of speed skating began in XII. Written sources have survived - the records of the monk Stephanius, evidence of the first competitions in London. The opening of the first discipline club took place in 1604. At the end of the 18th century, a set of rules for competitors was published. The speed skater's record speed has been officially recorded since 1890. Today, the title of champion is awarded to athletes when they win three out of four distances.

A person always strives for more, develops abilities and creates auxiliary equipment to improve performance. It is difficult to determine exactly what speed skaters are capable of developing. Its development on the track depends on physical fitness athlete, equipment, distance, condition of the ice cover. At the skating rink, skating enthusiasts move within the speed limits of 3-5 km / h, the maximum speed is 12 km / h. Traffic limits the congestion of the track. Developing high speed is the task of professional athletes. In hockey, players are capable of skating at speeds up to 40 km / h. The record among hockey players was shown by Maxim Afinogenov, the speed of movement was 46 km / h. The average speed among skaters is between 45 and 50. The figures are not constant data. On straight sections, the ability to develop speed increases. Statistics determine the average speed by 5 km more.

The first world record holder

Oscar Grunden has written his name in the history of sports. He became the first record holder in short distance 500 meters away. The Norwegian athlete overcame it in 50.8 seconds, it was not possible to improve the result soon. Sprinter speed is recorded in 1891.

The first person in the world to receive the status of an Olympic champion three times on one winter games, became Klas Thunberg. The athlete from Finland began his streak of victories in 1923. The young skater began to practice discipline at the age of 18. For ten years of work, he managed to achieve world fame and topped the list of world stars. The historic event took place at the stadium in the French city of Chamonix in 1924. At the age of 28, a resident of the city of Helsinki won the first European title. The next ten years were the most successful in a speed skating career. The best result was brought to the athlete by a short track - a distance of 500 m and a track of 1.5 km.

Records not ratified

At the 2007 competition with Salt Lake City, two athletes did not receive the status of record holders by a judge's decision. Jeremy Wotherspoon - the representative of Canada did not receive gold in the sprint all-around. Chiare Simionato - Italy did not score 154.777 points in the small all-around.

The last failed record holder was Denis Yuskov from Russia. At the Olympics in Calgary, the result was not counted 3.34.37.

It was not possible to ratify the results due to violation of the rules of speed skating.

The most titled skaters

Athletes are multiple owners Olympic gold come from different countries of the world: Norway, the Netherlands, Russia, America, Japan, Finland. Women's world records received official recognition later than men's. The decision to start registration was approved in 1929.

Achievements of men

Among the Dutch athletes, Jaap Eden became the world champion three times. During his career, he set five world records. He managed to overcome the track of 1500, 5000 meters as quickly as possible. Compatriot - Adrianus Schendk won seven medals during his stay in great sport, became the world champion three times. Robert Ritsma managed to surpass his comrades. He received the title of Olympic champion four times. The skater has six victories at the European Championship. Sven Kramer entered the list of the most titled skaters from the Netherlands in 2015-2017, receiving a nine-time European championship title. Running on ice helped to acquire world fame for Norwegian athletes: Hjalmar Andersen, Johan-Olaf Koss, Michael Straksurd, Ivar Ballangrud, Oskar Mathisen.

Russian Oleg Goncharenko is well known to the world sports community. The athlete, originally from the city of Kharkov (Ukraine), showed a high result at the competitions in Helsinki in 1953. The young talent won 5,000 and 10,000 m tracks, won silver in the 1,500 m race. The past stages of the all-around took him to first place in the results, made him the first Soviet world champion.

Women's records

In sports discipline, the world community is well aware of the name of Yulia Lipnitskaya. At the age of 15, the girl led the Russian team to victory at the 2014 competitions in Sochi. Katharina Witt is an East German athlete who has won the singles champion title twice, became the first in the world four times and six in Europe. Oksana Baiul, originally from Ukraine, became an Olympic winner in the 1994 championship and a one-time winner of the 1993 world gold. American Michelle Kwan has climbed the world podium five times. The girl is second only to Sonya Henie - the first and only three-time Olympic champion to date.

The fastest skater in the world

You can compare the results of speed skating athletes at different distances. The fastest skater in the world is a champion at the most short track... Today it is Pavel Kulizhnikov. The Russian showed a record speed at 500 meters. In November 2015, the young man overcame the obstacle in 33.98 seconds and did not make technical mistakes. The young man, originally from the Komi Republic, started at the age of 12 sports activities skater. After moving to Kolomna, his father helped Pavel find his calling, gave his son to training in speed skating. Ice skating has become a lifelong affair. After being disqualified in 2012, Kulizhnikov did not give up. After disqualification, he restored his name and showed a decent result, returned to the ice as a winner. The 24-year-old boy was the first among Russians who managed to achieve such heights of sport.

Myths and reality

Truth and fiction exist in every area of ​​human endeavor. Reality does not match the following statements:

1. The speed of movement of the legs plays a major role when sliding on ice - this is a myth. The maximum acceleration is obtained when taking practically equal steps. The best results are obtained when making smooth movements.
2. If the skater falls before the finish line, the result will not be recognized. The assumption is fiction. The rules confirm the victory of the participant when the athlete's skate crosses the finish line.
3. Fatigue builds up on long races. Medical research has proven the assumption to be wrong. At the end of the distance professional athletes feel better than at the beginning of the trail.

Speed ​​skating is one of the most popular disciplines in the world. The development of the direction takes place annually: the inventory is modernized, the athletes master new elements. Every year new champions are set, the speed of speed skaters at distances becomes higher. Spectacular sports discipline is ready to amaze fans.

Many people enjoy watching winter sports competitions. Also, most people happily practice these species on their own. And this number includes speed skating. Probably, many have already asked the question of what kind of skaters on the track has been developed over the entire existence of skates. To find the answer to this question, it is worth taking a deeper look at this sport.

Scientific understanding

There is no reliable data about the time at which skates were invented and created. The very first types of these sports equipment were discovered by archaeologists when they carried out excavations. Most interestingly, the age of some specimens is more than 3200 years.

Now a few words about the scientific understanding of speed skating and directly about the development of maximum speed on the track. Under this phrase, as already mentioned, we mean the variety The maximum speed of skaters on the track depends not only on physical qualities athlete, but also from external factors.

All skaters compete in the stadium, which is covered with slippery ice. All people run in a vicious circle, which is a big problem for some. Also, the condition of the skates can be attributed to external factors.

And now a few words about maximum speed. These measurements cannot be any specific unit that is kept at the same level. No. This data may vary due to physical condition athlete and external factors, which were mentioned above.

Modern speed skating

All sports change over time and develop in better side... Speed ​​skating is no exception. If you look at the description of this sport in the recent past, then it differs significantly from the modern one. A millennial change is not worth talking about. Of course, earlier maximum speed The skaters on the track weren't as big as they are now.

Track distances:

• Short distances. These include 500, 1000 and 1500 meters.
• Long distances. 3, 5 and 10 kilometers.

All speed skating competitions are held on tracks that are 400 meters long and 10 meters wide, not counting 2 additional tracks. The last meters are provided specifically for the safety of the skaters. Turning radii are 25-30 meters. Also, some modern stadiums provide for special warm-up tracks, which are 333 meters long.

Competitions are held in pairs. The winner is the person who covered the distance for the maximum a short time... Now it's worth saying which skaters are on the track. The answer, of course, will not be great. On average, athletes can reach 50-60 km / h.

Myths and reality

There are myths and fictional facts in almost all spheres of life. Speed ​​skating could not do without some myths, which, as you might guess, are at odds with real data and facts.

Refutation of myths:

• Run long distances. There is a myth among ordinary people that during a race over such distances, a certain amount of fatigue accumulates in an athlete's body. And at the end of the distance, the maximum average speed of the skaters on the track is much less than at the beginning of the race. But in reality it’s not like that. Scientists examined the condition of people before and after the race. In most cases, the athlete felt much better after the race. Possibly the speed towards the end is less than the initial data.
• The fall. Some people believe that if a skater falls before the finish line, his result will not count. Only the main rules state that when crossing the finish line, the result is valid in any case.

Conclusion

Speed ​​skating is one of the most difficult sports, but beautiful and exciting. The maximum speed of skaters on the track can become main task, because thanks to this, the athlete becomes the winner.

Is it possible to run a distance of 500 meters in 34 seconds? Yes, if you are not the first year in speed skating and your name is Pavel Kulizhnikov. It is this record holder who is the fastest skater in the world.

Short and long distance runners are unique people. They have only skates on their feet, not running boots, and they manage to move at the speed of a car - 60 km / h. This speed of the skaters is at maximum. Why, under equal conditions, do some run faster and others slower? Based on scientific understanding, speed is determined by several factors:

• the physical qualities of the athlete;
• weather;
• the state of sports equipment.

The average speed of a skater is 40-50 km / h. V speed skating There are two types of athletes: short and long distance runners. Sprinter's track - 500 or 1000 meters. Long distance runners must run 3,000, 5,000 or 10,000 meters.

Important! To reach best result, the skater must be able to distribute forces throughout the race.

To answer the question of what speed a skater develops, you need to know the scientific understanding of speed running techniques. It is based on the laws of physics, physiology and human anatomy. can be classified as one of the most technically accurate. Each movement of the athlete must be filled with meaning, verified, perfected to automatism. The main load is taken by the athlete's legs, however, without knowledge of how and in what position you need to keep your arms, body and head, it will be difficult for a skater to reach maximum speed.

How thick should the skate blade be

To develop the fastest possible speed on ice, the skates must have the lowest sliding resistance. Clap skates got their name because of the characteristic sound they make when sliding. Manufactured from high quality carbon steel. Their blades are the thinnest when compared to figure or hockey skates, and are only 1-1.2 mm.

Important! The athlete must ensure that the blades are perfectly sharpened. The working surface should be smooth and level. The edge of the blade should form a right angle.

A distinctive feature of clap-skates is boot fixation. Only the front part (toe) is attached to the blade by means of a hinge with a spring.

First World Championship

Amsterdam is the city that hosted the first unofficial world speed skating championship. This event happened in 1889. 4 years later, the capital of the Netherlands again hosted skaters from all over the world, but now on a legal basis. In 1893, a decision was made to give the competition legal status, and the skaters took part in the first official world championship. True, at first only men. Women were allowed to compete only since 1936. The first Sprinter World Championship was held in 1972.

The first world record holder

Speed ​​skating, in which the maximum speed was set by Oskar Gründen, a Swedish athlete, begins the chronicle of the history of world records since 1891. At the competitions in Stockholm, he ran a distance of 500 meters in 50.8 seconds. In 1893, Norwegian Alfred Ness broke his record by 0.6 seconds.

The next record holder appeared only 13 years later. It was Rudolf Gundersen. Hans Engenstangen's record could not be broken for the longest time. This was done by our compatriot Yuri Sergeev, ahead of the Norwegian by only a tenth of a second. Among women, the first record holder was Sofya Kondakova, who overcame the 1000-meter race in 1.36.8.

The most titled skaters

Become a champion neither more nor less, but 40 times! Finn Klas Thunberg rightfully bears the title of one of the most titled skaters. He has won world and European championships.

Among Russian champions the first lines of the list are decorated with the surname of the fourfold Olympic champion Evgenia Grishina. Among women, Lydia Skoblikova achieved phenomenal sporting success... At the IX Olympiad, she won gold, becoming the first in all four distances. Among women, she is the only six-time champion in the world. winter species. Absolute record holder for the won gold medals is the American Eric Hayden.

Olympiad 2018

In 2018 winter Olympic Games took place in the province of South Korea, Pyeongchang, at the indoor speed skating stadium. The competition program, in comparison with previous years, was supplemented by a mass start for men and women. Representatives of 27 countries of the world sent their skaters at a distance. 14 sets of awards were played between them. The men's 500m race brought gold to the Norwegian Howar Lorentsen. Among women, the Japanese woman Nao Kodaira became the champion.

The Dutch skaters won gold medals at three distances for both men and women: 1000, 1500 (Kjeld Neuss, Jorin Ter Morse, Irene Wust), 3000 (Karlein Ahterekte) and 5000 meters (Sven Kramer, Esme Visser). The distance of 10,000 meters was the fastest to overcome the Canadian Ted-Ian Blumen. In the mass start, South Korean athlete Lee Seung Hoon was the first to cross the finish line, and among women - Japanese Nana Takagi. In the men's team, the Norwegian team won, and the Japan team among the women.

Figure skating

Skaters and figure skaters have not only a common sports equipment - skates, until a certain time both of these disciplines were considered speed skating. However, what is good for one athlete will not work for another. For a skater, the main thing is speed, and for a skater - high-quality performance of complex elements on the ice and good adhesion of skates to a smooth sliding surface.

At the 2018 Olympics, figure skaters traditionally competed in the men's and women's singles, pair skating and also in ice dancing. Gold medal v single skating among men was the Japanese Yuzuru Hanyu, among women - the athlete from Russia Alina Zagitova. A couple from Germany Alyona Savchenko and Bruno Masso climbed to the first step of the podium. In ice dancing, Canadians Tessa Vertyu and Scott Moir showed the highest class. Their team won the team competition as well.

Speed ​​skating myths

Among fans of this spectacular sport, there are many myths that have nothing to do with reality:

1. The sooner the better. Speed ​​skating is not suitable for the little ones. You can send a child to the section from 10-11 years old.
2. The ice on the track should be as frozen as possible. For the most comfortable grip, the ice should not be too frozen. Its optimal temperature for skaters is from -3 to -5 ° C, - -6 ° C. The coldest ice should be for long distance runners - -10 ° C and sprinters - from -7 ° C. This will improve performance.
3. During the race, each athlete runs only one lap (internal or external) throughout the entire distance. No. They change places. There is a special area for this. Thus, half of the circle, the athlete runs along the outer, the other - along the inner circle.

Who is faster - skier or skater

With skiers, this is not the case with skaters. Cross-country skiers develop an average speed of 25-30 km / h on the track. But in alpine skiing, the speed can reach 140 km / h. There are many factors to consider to determine who is faster, including the type of equipment, track quality, and weather conditions.

We examined the main features of speed skating, found out how fast speed skaters run, debunked myths and met outstanding athletes. Now watching the competition will become even more interesting.