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Olympic Short Track Speed Skating

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While speed skaters compete in separate lanes and against the clock, in short track everyone is racing together on the same stretch of ice.

The rink is smaller too, which means you can get some spectacular crashes as the skaters do all they can to finish ahead of the pack.

At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Steven Bradbury took gold for Australia in the men's 1,000m event after the three men ahead of him all crashed on the last lap.

Tactics play a big part in each race

In short track, the only thing you have to worry about is finishing ahead of your rivals.

The action takes place on a 110m oval track marked out at both bends with small rubber blocks.

HOLDERS: MEN
500m Apolo Anton Ohno (US)
1,000m Ahn Hyun-Soo (Kor)
1,500m Ahn Hyun-Soo (Kor)
5,000m relay Korea

The skaters must go around the outside of these blocks, but they can drag their left hands on the ice inside the blocks as they glide low around the bends in a counter-clockwise direction.

For individual events, the competition proceeds in heats of four or six competitors, depending on the distance.

The first two skaters to cross the line go through to the next round.

Any skater who pushes or obstructs an opponent, or causes a serious collision, can be disqualified.

The same fate awaits anyone who false starts twice.

HOLDERS: WOMEN
500m Wang Meng (Chn)
1,000m Jin Sun-Yu (Kor, above left)
1,500m Jin Sun-Yu (Kor)
3,000m relay Korea

Tactics play a big part in each race, with competitors often happy to track the leader and then produce a late charge to the line.

In relay events, eight teams compete, with four in each semi-final heat. The top two from each heat advance to the final.

Each team has four skaters, plus a substitute who can be drafted in if a team-mate falls, who swap in and out of the action during the race.

To exchange places, the skater gives his or her team-mate a hard push.

Handovers can be made along the two straights, and the same skater must complete the last two laps.

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Skaters wear simple, skin-tight suits made from lightweight, stretchy fabric.

Apart from the skates, all you need in short track is something to wear and some protection for the head and body.

Skaters wear simple, skin-tight suits made from lightweight, stretchy fabric.

A hard-shell helmet is compulsory, as skaters travel at high speed and can crash out of a race at any time.

Kneepads, shinpads and gloves give extra protection.