The juxtaposition of speed and potential spills makes this one of the most thrilling of all Olympic Winter sports. It is one of the few events where competitors race directly against each other rather than against the clock.

Shortly after speed skating became an established international sport, short track speed skating races began to occur in Europe. Soon it was common for skaters to compete in both long and short track events. Short track ovals were covered and offered a place for skaters to train all year. Many long track racers would practice sprinting and turning techniques around the small oval. 

Australia has a great record in short track speed skating. At Lillehammer 1994, Australia won its first winter Olympic medal with a bronze in the 5000m relay. The quartet of Richard Nizielski, Steven Bradbury, Andrew Murtha and Kieran Hansen made history when they finished third in the final behind Italy and the United States.

For more than half of the forty-five lap race there was nothing between the four squads. Then with twenty-one laps to go, a Canadian lost his edge and crashed into the side. At the twelve lap mark, the Italian 500 metre world recorder holder, Mirko Vuillermin accelerated, giving his team the winning break. It seemed that Australia would win silver, however the power of the United States team emerged and they raced away to finish second.

 In 2002 in Salt Lake City Bradbury at his fourth Games won Australia’s first Winter Olympic gold medal. In the 1000m the Queenslander took advantage of favourable circumstances. In the quarter and semi-finals, two competitors fell and the third was disqualified allowing him to squeak through to the final.

In the finals, Bradbury dropped behind early and trailed the rest of the field by almost a half lap as they entered the last turn. But a massive collision sent the other four finalists flying. As the only skater left standing, Bradbury crossed the finish line first and was awarded the gold medal.

Karen Kah (Gardiner) who competed in 1992 and 1994 achieved the best result by an Australian women when she placed 11th in the 1000m in Lillehammer.

Tatiana Borodulina who is a multiple world cup medallist and Olympic finalist in 2006 for Russia is Australia’s best chance for another short track medal. Australia hopes to qualify up to eight skaters for Vancouver 2010.

Short track differs in several ways from conventional speed skating, particularly in the obvious differences in the size of the track and the nature of the competition, but also in the competitor’s equipment.

Races take place around an oval track (measuring around 111.12m) designed to fit inside an average ice rink. The bends are tight and “short trackers” skate close together counter-clockwise jockeying for position and trying to cover any attempted breaks with the pack. The odd clash and tumble are inevitable with the walls and the ink being heavily padded.

Although the aim is still to be the first across the line, speed takes a second place to tactics, especially in the heats.

At the Olympic Games there are eight short track speed skating events. They are the women’s 500m, 1000m, 1500m and 3000m relay and men’s 500m, 1000m, 1500m and 5000m relay.

Each individual event has 32 participants. Races feature four skaters at a time in a mass start. For the 500m and 1000m there are heats, quarterfinals, semifinals and an A and B final. The A final determines the medals and the B final positions 5 -8. For the 1500m there are heats, three semifinals and an A and B final. 

A relay team comprises four members plus a reserve who can substitute in any heat or final. In general, skaters contest one and a half laps apiece in the relay and take multiple turns on the ice in any order. Changeovers can occur anywhere on the course by touch or push. There are eight teams in the relays contesting two semifinals and the top two teams in each advance to the final. 

Skaters wear helmets, gloves and protective pads on their elbows and knees to protect themselves from injury. To grip the ice around turns, gloves and blades are especially important. The gloves must be resistant to being placed on ice at high speeds and the blades must be extremely sharp, bent in an arc, to assist direction in the turn. In addition short track blades are placed off centre to the left so the boot does not touch the ice when the skater leans into the turn.

Short track boots lace higher up the ankle than traditional skates and constructed from customised foot moulds. The materials used are a lot heavier to stabilise the ankle around corners. Socks are rarely used.

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