speed skating

American  

Or speedskating

noun

1. ice skating as a form of racing, usually on an oval course and against other competitors or the clock.

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speed skating British  

noun

1. a form of ice skating in which contestants race against each other or the clock over various distances

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Other Word Forms

• speed skater
  noun
• speedskater
  noun

Etymology

Origin of speed skating

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Dutch speed skating star Jutta Leerdam was pipped to her second gold medal at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics by her teammate Femke Kok in a thrilling 500 metres contest on Sunday.

From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026

American Jordan Stolz achieved the 500m and 1000m double, a feat not seen in men's speed skating for 46 years, at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Saturday.

From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026

However, short track speed skating requires the ice to be thinner and colder.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2026

However, short track and long track speed skating have all been contested over the same distance at every Winter Olympic venue and world championship over the years.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2026

In the second half of the 19th century the Fen country acquired a certain celebrity in the world of sport from the encouragement it gave to speed skating.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 2 "Fairbanks, Erastus" to "Fens" by Various