High-speed chaos on ice: What to learn about brief monitor speedskating on the Winter Olympics

Introduction to Short Track Speedskating at the Milan Cortina Winter Games

The most decorated short track speedskater in Olympic history, Arianna Fontana, will be competing in front of a home crowd at the Milan Cortina Winter Games, aiming to add to her impressive medal tally. With 11 Olympic medals, including two golds, four silvers, and five bronzes, Fontana is a must-watch athlete at these Olympics. In this article, we will delve into the world of short track speedskating, exploring how it works, who to watch, and what to expect from the competition.

How Short Track Speedskating Works

Unlike long track speedskating, which involves 1-on-1 races against the clock, short track is a high-energy, pack-style competition where athletes sprint counterclockwise laps around an oval. To protect themselves from collisions and falls, short track speedskaters wear helmets and gloves. The objective is to be the first to cross the finish line, with the winner determined by when a skate crosses the line, tracked by a chip worn near their ankle.

• FILE – Canada’s Courtney Sarault competes in the women’s 1500 meters quarter final of the World Championships Short Track at Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Friday, March 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

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  FILE – United States’ Kristen Santos-Griswold, gold medal, leads Corinne Stoddard, silver medal, during the women’s 1000 meters final of the ISU Short Track World Tour and Olympics Milano-Cortina 2026 test event, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

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  FILE – William Dandjinou of Canada leads in the Men’s 1000m Quarterfinals Heat 2 for the ISU World Short Track Championships held at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

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  FILE – The United States’ Andrew Heo skates during the semi-final of the men’s 500 meters at the Four Continents Championship short track speedskating event Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, in Kearns, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

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FILE – Canada’s Courtney Sarault competes in the women’s 1500 meters quarter final of the World Championships Short Track at Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Friday, March 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

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Athletes to Watch

Assuming she’s healthy, Arianna Fontana will be a top contender at these Olympics, both because of her impressive track record and the support she will receive from the home crowd. Other notable athletes to watch include William Dandjinou, who has won four
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