Every winter Olympic sport ranked by how frequently your uncle thinks ‘I could do that’

12. Short track speed skating

Don’t let the name ‘short track speed skating’ trick you like it did your uncle. While it may seem an easier alternative to long track speed skating, it’s just as tricky. While your uncle may brag about it slightly more than long track speed skating, it’s still not as bragged about due to the insane speeds of the skaters.

Short track speed skating has fewer events than the long track, only holding eight total events between men’s and women’s. The men and women race equal distances in every event except for two. Both race  500 meters, 1,000 meters and 1,500 meters, however, the longest race for the men is 5,000 meters to the women’s 3,000 meters. The 5,000/3,000 meter races are both relay races, signifying the only two team events in short track speed skating. The races take just five days of the overall Olympic games, with multiple events each day. Short track speed skating has a shorter history in the games, only being implemented in 1992; as opposed to long track speed skating which has been a part of the Olympic games since 1924.

In the end, the relationship short track and long track speed skating have is relatable to sprinting and long distance running. Very few people actually enjoy running. However, it’s not uncommon for people to choose to run shorter distances at higher speeds as opposed to cross-country running. The same goes for short track speed skating. It’s simply more popular and therefore, more talked and bragged (by your rather unathletic uncle) about.