A standard Olympic speed skating track is 400 metres per lap for long track, and 111.12 metres per lap for short track.

Quick Scoop: The Basics

  • Long track (the classic Olympic oval):
    • Standard lap length: 400 m.
* Shape: Two long straights with two 180° curves, forming a big oval.

* Inner curve radius: Between 25 m and 26 m.

* Lane width: 4 m for each competition lane.

* Usually built indoors for top-level events (like the Olympics) to control ice and air conditions.
  • Short track (on a hockey rink):
    • Standard lap length: 111.12 m (often written 111.111 m).
* Laid out inside a rink that’s 60 m by 30 m – basically an international-sized ice hockey rink.

* Multiple skaters race on the same lane, so the track is tighter and much more “chaotic” to watch.

Mini Breakdown: “How Big” in Plain Terms

Think of it in everyday scale:

  • A long track oval (400 m) is:
    • Roughly the same lap distance as a standard outdoor athletics running track (also 400 m), just on ice instead of rubber.
* Big enough that many facilities put a full ice hockey rink or other ice area inside the oval.
  • A short track oval (111.12 m) is:
    • About one quarter the lap length of the long track.
    • Squeezed onto a regular “Olympic-size” hockey surface (60 × 30 m) so arenas can host both hockey and speed skating.

Other Possible Track Sizes

While major championships use the standard sizes above, there is some flexibility:

  • Alternative long-track lengths like 200 m, 250 m, or 333⅓ m exist and are sometimes used for training or smaller competitions.
  • The international rules set minimums for long-track “alternatives,” such as:
    • Track length of at least 200 m.
    • Inner curve radius of at least 15 m.
    • Lane width of at least 2 m.

These non‑standard ovals still follow the same basic oval shape but feel a bit different to skate.

Quick FAQ Style Recap

  • How big is a speed skating track?
    • Long track: 400 m per lap, with 25–26 m inner radius and 4 m lanes.
* Short track: 111.12 m per lap on a 60 m × 30 m rink.
  • Is it the same everywhere?
    • For top‑level international competitions, yes: 400 m for long track and 111.12 m for short track are the standards.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.