Speed skating at the 1932 Winter Olympics
Encyclopedia
At the 1932 Winter Olympics
, four speed skating
events were contested. For the only time in the Olympic history, the speed skating were held as packstyle events, having all competitors skate at the same time. This competition form was not common in Europe
and gave the runners from the United States
and Canada
a major advantage over the European rivals. Only two medals went to Europeans. Women were allowed to compete but only as part of demonstration sport
events. The distances for women were 500 m, 1000 m and 1500 m. The packstyle racing would pave the way for short track speed skating
, that would debut as a demonstration event at the 1988 Winter Olympics
in Calgary
before becoming an official Olympic event at the 1992 Winter Olympics
in Albertville
.
The men's competitions were held on Thursday, February 4, 1932, Friday, February 5, 1932, Saturday, February 6, 1932, and on Monday, February 8, 1932. The women's events were contested from Monday, February 8, 1932 to Wednesday, February 10, 1932.
at the 1932 Games, so no official medals were awarded. Two nations, the USA and Canada, with 10 competitors entered the competition. Like the men's races that used the mass start racing in heats compared to racing in pairs in Europe, the women's races were as well. The official results only show the winning time for each event.
A total of 31 male speed skaters from six nations competed at the Lake Placid Games:
In addition, ten female speed skaters (five from the United States as well as five from Canada) competed in the women's demonstration events.
1932 Winter Olympics
The 1932 Winter Olympics, officially known as the III Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1932 in Lake Placid, New York, United States. The games opened on February 4 and closed on February 15. It would be the first winter olympics held in the United...
, four speed skating
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
events were contested. For the only time in the Olympic history, the speed skating were held as packstyle events, having all competitors skate at the same time. This competition form was not common in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and gave the runners from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
a major advantage over the European rivals. Only two medals went to Europeans. Women were allowed to compete but only as part of demonstration sport
Demonstration sport
A demonstration sport is a sport which is played to promote itself, most commonly during the Olympic Games, but also at other sporting events.Demonstration sports were officially introduced in 1912 Summer Olympics, when Sweden decided to include glima, traditional Icelandic wrestling, in the...
events. The distances for women were 500 m, 1000 m and 1500 m. The packstyle racing would pave the way for short track speed skating
Short track speed skating
Short track speed skating is a form of competitive ice speed skating. In competitions, multiple skaters skate on an oval ice track with a circumference of 111.12 m...
, that would debut as a demonstration event at the 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
before becoming an official Olympic event at the 1992 Winter Olympics
1992 Winter Olympics
The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics...
in Albertville
Albertville
Albertville is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The town is best known for hosting the 1992 Winter Olympics.-Geography:...
.
The men's competitions were held on Thursday, February 4, 1932, Friday, February 5, 1932, Saturday, February 6, 1932, and on Monday, February 8, 1932. The women's events were contested from Monday, February 8, 1932 to Wednesday, February 10, 1932.
Medal summary
| 500 metres |
|||
| 1500 metres |
|||
| 5000 metres |
|||
| 10000 metres |
Women's events
Speed skating events for women were demonstration eventsDemonstration sport
A demonstration sport is a sport which is played to promote itself, most commonly during the Olympic Games, but also at other sporting events.Demonstration sports were officially introduced in 1912 Summer Olympics, when Sweden decided to include glima, traditional Icelandic wrestling, in the...
at the 1932 Games, so no official medals were awarded. Two nations, the USA and Canada, with 10 competitors entered the competition. Like the men's races that used the mass start racing in heats compared to racing in pairs in Europe, the women's races were as well. The official results only show the winning time for each event.
| Event | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
| 500 metres |
|||
| 1000 metres |
|||
| 1500 metres |
Participating nations
Eight speed skaters competed in all four events.A total of 31 male speed skaters from six nations competed at the Lake Placid Games:
In addition, ten female speed skaters (five from the United States as well as five from Canada) competed in the women's demonstration events.
Medal table
Only men's events counted.| 1 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 11 | |
| 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |