At the sound of the starting signal, two skaters burst forward at the starting line. Before they can fully harness their skates’ momentum, the race is over in about 10 seconds. The medalists are determined by their recorded times.
For the first time in the history of the Winter Asian Games, a 100m speed skating event will be held in Harbin. Until now, the shortest sprint distance in speed skating was 500m, but this new event will determine victory in just one-fifth of that distance.
Efforts to introduce the 100-meter speed skating event as an official competition date back over twenty years. The International Skating Union (ISU) adopted it as a demonstration event for the Speed Skating World Cup starting in the 2003-04 season, and it continued for six seasons until the 2008-09 season.
However, it never progressed to official event status and eventually disappeared—until now, when it has been revived as an official event in the Harbin Winter Asian Games.
The host country has the authority to add or remove certain events at the Olympics and Asian Games. China introduced the 100-meter event, considering that its athletes have a strong advantage in explosive starts. The move is considered a strategic decision to increase its gold medal count.
In contrast, the mass start event, a stronghold for South Korean skaters, has been axed from the program. The event selection itself reflects the home advantage.
The 100-meter event demands far greater precision than the traditional 500-meter event. A single misstep can significantly lose time, putting an athlete far behind in the rankings.
Jegal Sungyeol, head coach of Uijeongbu City Hall’s speed skating team, told News1, “Opinions may vary, but I believe the 100-meter event has enough merit as a competitive event in speed skating. Since shorter distances lead to much tighter finishes, it will also be more exciting for spectators.”
Although the event was introduced to give China an advantage, South Korea also has a chance to claim the gold medal.
Coach Jegal explained, “China is undoubtedly strong, but South Korea’s national team members, Kim Jun Ho and Kim Min Seon, have significantly improved their start times, making them highly competitive. Since the race is so short, there are many variables. An athlete’s condition on the day, their understanding of the ice conditions, and the ability to avoid mistakes will all play a crucial role.”
Kim Min Seon, the star of South Korea’s women’s speed skating team, is determined to win gold in both her main event, the 500m and the newly introduced 100m.
“I don’t feel any particular pressure about the 100m event. When I race in the 500m, I always push myself to the fullest through the first 100 meters. I will prepare well and enjoy the race,” Kim said.
However, even if the 100m event gains popularity in this Asian Games, experts believe its chances of becoming an official event in future World Cups or the Olympics remain low.
Coach Jegal noted, “When the 100m was introduced as a demonstration event in the past, Asian countries like South Korea, China, and Japan dominated the competition. That was one of the key reasons it was never officially adopted. European nations are unlikely to welcome the inclusion of the 100m event in international competitions.”