Short track speed skating is one of the fastest and most unpredictable sports in the Olympic Winter Games. Raced on a tight oval where athletes compete directly against one another, the sport combines explosive speed with tactical awareness and quick decision-making. At the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, short track speed skating will deliver some of the most intense and dramatic moments of the competition at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
Since becoming an official Olympic sport in 1992, short track has grown into a fan favorite, known for its close finishes, daring passes, and ever-present risk of contact on the ice.
What Is Short Track Speed Skating?
Short track speed skating is contested on a 111.12-meter oval, significantly smaller than the 400-meter track used in long track speed skating. Because of the tight turns, athletes spend most of the race skating on a curve, leaning sharply into each corner and often placing a gloved hand on the ice for balance.
Unlike long track, short track races are not timed time trials. Athletes race head-to-head in groups, advancing through a series of elimination rounds. Positioning, awareness, and split-second decisions play a major role, and races can change instantly due to contact, falls, or penalties.
Protective equipment is required, including helmets, padded suits, gloves, and cut-resistant gear. The boards around the track are padded to reduce injury, reflecting the high-speed, close-contact nature of the sport.
Competition Format and Events
Short track competitions at Milano Cortina 2026 will include nine medal events:
Women’s Events
- Women’s 500m
- Women’s 1000m
- Women’s 1500m
- Women’s 3000m Relay
Men’s Events
- Men’s 500m
- Men’s 1000m
- Men’s 1500m
- Men’s 5000m Relay
- Mixed Team Relay
In individual events, athletes compete in heats, with the top finishers advancing to quarterfinals, semifinals, and ultimately the A final, where medals are decided.
In the relays, teamwork and coordination are essential. The mixed team relay features teams of four athletes—two women and two men—who skate in a required alternating order, adding another layer of strategy to an already fast-paced event.
The Venue: Milano Ice Skating Arena
All short track speed skating events at the 2026 Winter Games will take place at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. The indoor venue provides a controlled environment with consistent ice conditions, allowing races to be decided by performance rather than weather.
The compact size of the short track brings spectators close to the action, making it easier to follow tactics, overtakes, and the physical demands of the sport. The arena setting amplifies the speed and intensity that define short track racing.
Team USA Athletes to Watch in Short Track Speed Skating
Team USA enters the Milano Cortina Olympic cycle with a strong short track program and a mix of experienced competitors and rising athletes.
Kristen Santos-Griswold
Kristen Santos-Griswold enters Milano Cortina 2026 as the leader of Team USA’s women’s squad and one of the most accomplished American short track skaters. The 2024–25 Crystal Globe champion, Santos-Griswold overcame a season marked by health challenges to earn multiple World Tour podium finishes and play a major role in Team USA’s relay medal performances, bringing proven speed, experience, and resilience into her Olympic campaign.
Corinne Stoddard
Corinne Stoddard returns for her second Olympic Games after the strongest season of her career, finishing runner-up overall on the World Tour in 2025. Stoddard collected eight individual medals on the circuit and helped power the United States to multiple relay podiums, making her one of the most reliable all-around athletes on the roster and a serious contender across both individual distances and relays.
Julie Letai
Julie Letai returns to the Olympic stage as a key part of Team USA’s relay strength and women’s team depth. After working through injuries over the last two seasons, Letai played an important role on the World Tour relay squad and contributed to the U.S. women’s relay success, bringing composure, experience, and stability to high-pressure racing environments.
Eunice Lee
Eunice Lee earns her second Olympic berth and remains an essential contributor to Team USA’s women’s relay system. After battling injuries in recent seasons, Lee returned to competition and helped strengthen U.S. relay performances on the World Tour, adding veteran presence and steady execution that will be critical in events where clean exchanges and positioning determine podium outcomes.
Andrew Heo
Andrew Heo returns for his second Olympic Games after delivering one of Team USA’s biggest breakthrough moments of the season: a gold medal in the men’s 500m on the World Tour. His win made him the first U.S. man in more than a decade to claim an international top-level individual victory, and he enters Milano Cortina as a dangerous sprinter capable of changing the pace of any race.
Brandon Kim
Brandon Kim will make his Olympic debut in Milano Cortina after finishing the season as the highest-ranked American man overall on the World Tour. After narrowly missing the 2022 team, Kim has surged into Olympic form with improved consistency and speed, including a U.S. national record in the 500m, making him a major factor in both sprint events and relay strategy.
Clayton DeClemente
Clayton DeClemente makes his Olympic debut as one of Team USA’s most dependable international performers and a major piece of the men’s middle-distance group. For the second consecutive World Tour season, he finished as the top-ranked American in the 1000m, while also leading the U.S. in the 1500m standings this year, giving Team USA valuable range across multiple events.
Kamryn Lute
Kamryn Lute becomes the youngest member of Team USA’s short track roster and will make her Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026. A national team athlete since 2022, Lute brings speed, poise, and breakout potential to the U.S. program as it looks to rebuild Olympic momentum and push back onto the podium.
Short Track Speed Skating at Milano Cortina 2026
When short track speed skating begins at the 2026 Winter Games, fans can expect high-speed racing defined by courage, precision, and constant motion. Every lap demands awareness, every pass carries risk, and every finish can be decided by fractions of a second.
In upcoming articles, we’ll take a closer look at individual short track distances, relay strategy, and how Team USA athletes prepare for one of the most demanding environments in Olympic sport.
On the short track, there is no room for hesitation—and no margin for error.