Speed skating has been part of the Winter Olympics since the inaugural Games in Chamonix 1924. Women’s events were officially added at Squaw Valley 1960, following earlier appearances as demonstration competitions. The current Olympic programme features 14 events - equally divided between men and women - with the most recent additions being the team pursuits introduced at Turin 2006 and the mass start races added at PyeongChang 2018.
At the Milano Ice Park, Italy will aim to add to its tally of seven Olympic speed skating medals. The nation’s standout figure in the sport is Enrico Fabris, who made history at the Turin 2006 Games by winning three medals: two golds - one in the 1,500 metres and the other in the debut team pursuit alongside Matteo Anesi, Stefano Donagrandi and Ippolito Sanfratello - and a bronze in the 5,000 metres.
On the women’s side, Francesca Lollobrigida became the first Italian female skater to reach the Olympic podium, winning silver in the 3,000 metres and bronze in the mass start at the Beijing 2022 Games.