Tactics are ever-changing and speedy. At the Beijing Winter Olympics, short track speed skating is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated events. In the history of the Winter Olympics, 10 of the 13 gold medals won by the Chinese legion came from this event. However, many people confuse short track speed skating with speed skating. So, what is the difference between the two? Take a look at today's "Winter Olympic Encyclopedia".
Flying like the wind, decisively winning in the thousandth of seconds, this is short track speed skating.
Short track speed skating evolved from the speed skating program and was only officially established as a Winter Olympic sport in 1992. There are significant differences between the two in terms of track, clothing, and number of departures.
The speed skating track has a circumference of 400 meters and is divided into two tracks: inside and outside. During the competition, the players generally wear a hat-hooded jumpsuit that reduces wind resistance, and exchanges the inner and outer lanes once every lap. Generally, 2 athletes start at the same time, each skating in each lane, without interfering with each other, which is a pure speed contest.
In addition to speed, short track speed skating also has a tactical competition between people, which is a contest between control and anti-control, transcendence and anti-transcendence.
Short track speed skating, as the name suggests, the track is only less than one-third of the speed skating, the inner rim circumference is about 111 meters, the length of the straight is less than 30 meters, the minimum radius of the curve is 8 meters, and the race is won and lost in the order of reaching the finish line.
Generally, 4 or more runners start at the same time, and there is no track distinction. According to the rules, players can surpass each other at any time during the game, but once there is a malicious blocking, pushing or pulling, they will be judged to be fouled.
Players who were still in the lead in the previous second may suffer their results in the next second because others fouled them. Players who did not qualify for the medal may also be disqualified from the podium due to fouls by other players. The joys and sorrows of the short track speed skating are as rapid as the sport itself.
At the same time, due to the large number of curves and the lack of tracks, athlete injuries occur from time to time in short-track speed skating competitions. Therefore, in 2003, the International Skating Federation required short-track speed skaters to wear protective equipment such as protective helmets and cut-proof clothing.
Of the 13 gold medals won by the Chinese Legion in the history of the Winter Olympics, 10 came from this event where passion and danger coexisted. The Chinese short track speed skating team can be said to be a well-deserved "master of kings".
The Winter Olympics are about to open, and the Chinese short track speed skating team is gathering momentum, let's look forward to them continuing to write a new legend.
(Editor: Zhang Zhiyi Lao Xu)