Long track speed skating is one of the most enduring and technically demanding sports in the Olympic Winter Games. Combining sustained power, precise technique, and mental discipline, speed skating challenges athletes to maintain efficiency and focus over repeated laps of the ice. At the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, long track speed skating will once again be a centerpiece of competition at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium.
With roots tracing back to the late 1600s, when skaters traveled across frozen rivers and lakes, speed skating has evolved into a sport defined by marginal gains and exacting standards. It has been part of the Olympic program since 1924 and remains a true test of endurance and consistency.
What Is Long Track Speed Skating?
Long track speed skating is raced on a 400-meter oval, the same length as an Olympic running track. Athletes compete against the clock rather than directly against one another, skating in pairs and switching lanes each lap to ensure equal distance.
Each race is decided purely by time. There are no judges and no style points—success depends on pacing, efficient stride mechanics, and the ability to sustain speed across multiple laps.
Speed skaters use specialized skates equipped with clap blades, a hinged blade system that allows the blade to remain in contact with the ice longer during each stride. This technology increases efficiency but also places greater demands on balance, timing, and control.
Competition Events
Women compete in individual distances ranging from 500 meters to 5,000 meters, while men race distances up to 10,000 meters. Sprint events reward explosive power and acceleration, while longer distances demand disciplined pacing and endurance.
In addition to individual time trials, the Olympic program includes two multi-skater events.
The mass start features all competitors beginning at the same time and racing together. While speed remains essential, positioning, awareness, and tactical decision-making play a significant role in determining outcomes.
The team pursuit consists of teams of three skaters racing in elimination-style heats. Teams start on opposite sides of the track, and the final time is recorded when the third skater crosses the finish line, emphasizing coordination and teamwork.
The speed skating program at Milano Cortina 2026 will include 14 medal events, evenly split between men and women.
The Venue: Milano Speed Skating Stadium
All long track speed skating events at the 2026 Winter Games will take place at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium. The indoor venue is designed to provide consistent ice conditions, eliminating wind and weather variables that can affect performance.
Indoor ovals place a premium on technical execution. Clean cornering, smooth lane changes, and steady pacing are essential, as even minor inefficiencies can significantly impact final times.
The controlled environment ensures races are decided by preparation, precision, and execution rather than external conditions.
Team USA Athletes to Watch in Long Track Speed Skating
Jordan Stolz
Jordan Stolz heads to Milano Cortina 2026 as the biggest name in American speed skating and one of the most dominant athletes in the sport worldwide. Still early in his Olympic career, Stolz has already separated himself as a generational talent, qualifying in the 500m, 1000m, 1500m, and mass start, and arriving in Italy as a top medal contender across multiple distances with a résumé built on World Cup victories, world titles, and historic consistency.
Erin Jackson
Erin Jackson returns to the Olympic stage as Team USA’s premier sprint skater and a proven champion in the women’s 500m. Already an Olympic gold medalist and one of the most respected athletes in the sport, Jackson qualified in both the 500m and 1000m and enters Milano Cortina 2026 as a serious podium threat, combining world-class speed with the confidence of someone who has already delivered on the biggest stage.
Brittany Bowe
Brittany Bowe brings elite veteran experience to Milano Cortina 2026 as one of the most accomplished American speed skaters of her generation. A four-time Olympian and two-time Olympic medalist, Bowe qualified in the 1000m and 1500m and will also be a key part of the women’s team pursuit squad, entering the Games with the kind of consistency and championship-level composure that has defined her career.
Casey Dawson
Casey Dawson returns to the Olympic Winter Games as one of Team USA’s strongest long-distance athletes and a critical piece of the men’s team pursuit unit. Dawson qualified for the 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, and team pursuit, and he enters Milano Cortina with major momentum after breaking national records and delivering a breakthrough World Cup gold, positioning himself as one of the most dangerous American endurance skaters in years.
Emery Lehman
Emery Lehman brings world-class experience and leadership to the U.S. roster as he heads into his fourth Olympic Games. Originally a hockey player before transitioning to speed skating, Lehman qualified in the 1500m and men’s team pursuit and remains one of the core members of a U.S. pursuit program that has rewritten expectations over the last several seasons with elite international performances and record-setting speed.
Ethan Cepuran
Ethan Cepuran heads to Milano Cortina 2026 as a key contributor across two of the most strategically demanding events in speed skating. Qualifying in both the mass start and the men’s team pursuit, Cepuran adds strength, depth, and tactical racing ability to a U.S. team that has become one of the most consistent pursuit squads in the world and is pushing toward Olympic podium potential.
Mia Manganello
Mia Manganello enters Milano Cortina 2026 as Team USA’s top women’s mass start contender and one of the most reliable tactical racers on the roster. Qualified in the mass start and women’s team pursuit, Manganello brings a powerful combination of pack-racing instincts, endurance, and late-race speed that makes her a legitimate threat in one of the most unpredictable and dramatic events on the Olympic schedule.
Long Track Speed Skating at Milano Cortina 2026
When long track speed skating begins at the 2026 Winter Games, fans can expect races decided by fractions of a second, built on years of disciplined training and technical refinement. Every lap rewards efficiency, control, and endurance.
In upcoming articles, we’ll explore individual speed skating events in greater detail, break down race strategy by distance, and follow Team USA athletes as they continue their path toward Milano Cortina 2026.
On the oval, precision is everything—and every stride counts.