The speed skating team sprint has been adopted as an official event for the 2030 Alps Winter Olympics.

The International Skating Union (ISU) announced today (July 9), "We welcome the decision by the IOC Executive Board to include the speed skating team sprint as an official event for the 2030 Alps Winter Olympics," adding, "This decision marks a significant milestone in the continued evolution of speed skating."

With the addition of the team sprint, speed skating at the 2030 Alps Winter Olympics will now consist of 16 events: the 500m, 1,000m, 1,500m, and 5,000m (for both men and women), the women's 3,000m and men's 10,000m (individual events), as well as the men's and women's team pursuit, mass start, and team sprint (team events).

The team sprint, which was introduced as a demonstration event during the 2015-2016 ISU Speed Skating World Cup series and became an official event starting in the 2018-2019 season, features teams of three skaters racing over three laps of a 400-meter track.

Two teams of three start simultaneously from opposite sides of the track. At the end of each lap, the lead skater drops out, and the remaining team members continue the race.

On the final third lap, only the third skater remains to sprint to the finish line, and the time at which this skater crosses the line determines the final record.

The inclusion of the team sprint in the Winter Olympics is also positive news for South Korea.

In November 2024, at the 2024-2025 ISU Four Continents Speed Skating Championships, the South Korean team of Kim Min-sun, Lee Na-hyun, and Kim Min-ji won a silver medal. Previously, in the women's event at the 2017-2018 Speed Skating World Cup #2, Kim Min-sun, Kim Young-hyun, and Park Seung-hi teamed up to secure South Korea's first-ever gold medal in the event.

ISU President Kim Jae-youl stated, "The inclusion of the team sprint in the 2030 Alps Winter Olympics is a very important step in the continued development of speed skating," adding, "The team sprint is an exciting competition format that combines power, exceptional athletic ability, and teamwork to provide a thrilling experience for fans around the world while showcasing the incredible talents of the athletes."

(Photo: Yonhap News)