Olympic speed skaters typically reach about 30–35 mph (48–56 km/h) during races, with special record attempts pushing close to 58 mph (93 km/h) on ice.

How fast do Olympic speed skaters go?

On standard Olympic ovals (the races you see at the Winter Games):

  • Elite long-track skaters often average around 30 mph (48 km/h) over a 500 m race, with peak bursts a bit higher.
  • Over longer distances (1500 m, 5000 m), their average speed stays in the mid‑20s mph range (around 40+ km/h), which is extremely fast to sustain on ice.

These speeds are calculated from official Olympic record times over known distances, so they reflect race conditions, not just a short sprint.

Record‑style “top speed” on skates

Outside normal Olympic races, some skaters have chased raw top speed:

  • Dutch Olympic champion Kjeld Nuis has been clocked at about 93 km/h (around 58 mph) on a specially prepared outdoor ice track with aerodynamic support, aiming purely for maximum speed rather than a standard race.

That kind of run is more like a controlled stunt or speed project than a regular Olympic event, but it shows how far human speed on skates can go.

Why they can go that fast

A few key factors let speed skaters reach these velocities:

  • Long, gliding strides with very low, aerodynamic body positions to cut drag.
  • Ultra‑smooth ice and carefully engineered skates that reduce friction and allow powerful pushes.
  • Modern training and even wind‑tunnel testing to fine‑tune technique and suits, chasing tiny gains over an entire race.

If you’re used to public‑rink skating, think of it this way: what feels “really fast” at a local rink is usually closer to 10 mph; Olympians are going roughly three times that speed, and holding it for full laps.

TL;DR: In Olympic races, speed skaters usually top out around the low‑30s mph, while special record attempts on ice have pushed close to 60 mph.

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