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Short-track speed skating (a form of competitive ice speed skating) takes place from February 10 to February 20, 2026, in Milan, Italy. Its Olympic events are one of the most prestigious competitions in short-track speed skating.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) oversees the Olympic Games as a whole, while the sport of short-track speed skating is governed by the International Skating Union (ISU), which sets rules and qualifications for the Olympic Games. Both bodies, along with the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee, are responsible for short-track speed skating at the 2026 Games.

Venue, Competitors’ Structure, and Prize Pool Overview for Short-Track Speed Skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics

The short-track speed skating competitions will be held at the indoor Milano Ice Skating Arena in Assago, a town near Milan. This is where all nine events are scheduled.

A total of 112 skaters are expected to compete in short-track speed skating: 56 men and 56 women.

The Olympic Games themselves don’t have a prize pool paid by the IOC for short-track speed skating or any sport. The IOC awards medals (gold, silver, bronze) and diplomas to top finishers, but the Games organizers don’t distribute Olympic prize money. However, some countries’ Olympic committees or governments give monetary rewards to their athletes for winning medals — this varies by country.

Participating Athletes in Short-Track Speed Skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics and Qualification Overview

The exact full list of individual names across all countries isn’t yet officially published in a single public source, but we do know the confirmed athletes selected for several teams and the quota allocations by nation from the ISU qualification system. Skaters’ quotas per country are determined by rankings in the 2025-26 World Tour.

These are some of the confirmed participants: Team USA (Corinne Stoddard, Kristen Santos-Griswold, Julie Letai, Kamryn Lute, Eunice Lee, Andrew Heo, Brandon Kim, and Clayton DeClemente), Team Canada (Danaé Blais, Kim Boutin, Florence Brunelle, Rikki Doak, Courtney Sarault, William Dandjinou, Steven Dubois, and Maxime Laoun), Great Britain (Niall Treacy)… quota places have been allocated to many other countries — including China, Italy, South Korea, Netherlands, Hungary, France, Poland, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and more — meaning they’ll each send their own skaters based on their national selections and quota spots earned. For example, China has the maximum 10 quota spots (5 men, 5 women); Italy, South Korea, and the Netherlands also have full teams; Poland and Ukraine each qualified multiple skaters, while Uzbekistan qualified its first-ever short-track skater.
Some neutral athletes (e.g., from Russia) have also earned individual qualification slots.

Note: Because quota places are allocated to National Olympic Committees (NOCs) — not directly to named athletes — many national federations announce their official athlete rosters over December–January. Final start lists will be published in the lead-up to the Games beginning early February 2026.

Quota places for short track at Milano Cortina 2026 were awarded based on performances in four designated 2025–26 ISU Short Track World Tour stages (in Montreal, Gdańsk, Dordrecht). Skaters earn ranking points in their events; those points determine the Special Olympic Qualification Classifications for each distance (500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, relays). The ISU then allocated quota spots to countries based on those rankings. Each nation gets a certain number of slots per distance, and overall, depending on their top results.

As for the quota-to-athlete translation, after NOCs receive quota slots, national federations name their athletes to fill them (like US Speedskating naming its team). Most countries use performance at national trials, combined with international results, to select which skaters take up their quota places.

Structure and Competition Format of Short-Track Speed Skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics

There are nine medal events in short-track speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics:

Men (four events)

• 500 m
• 1,000 m
• 1,500 m
• 5,000 m relay

Women (four events)

• 500 m
• 1,000 m
• 1,500 m
• 3,000 m relay

Mixed (one event)

• 2,000 m mixed team relay

Short-track speed skating doesn’t have “tournament stages” like group phases or playoff brackets. Instead, each discipline is organized into round-based elimination stages, spread across multiple days:

Typical competition progression (per event): Heats (opening round) → quarterfinals (used in 500 m and 1000 m) → semifinals → finals (A & B). Each distance is scheduled across 2–4 days, depending on the number of rounds required. Relay events follow a simpler structure: Semifinals → finals (A & B)

The race format and elimination system:

• Individual races (500 m & 1,000 m). These events use a multi-round knockout format:

1. Heats
   • 4–5 skaters per race
   • Top finishers advance

1. Quarterfinals

1. • Reduced field
   • Usually top-2 per race qualify

1. Semifinals

1. • Determines finalists

1. Finals

1. • A final → Medal race
   • B final → Ranking race (positions outside medals)

Skaters who reach the medal final typically compete four times in a single event.

• 1,500 m races. Because of the larger initial field, this distance skips quarterfinals: Heats → semifinals → finals (A & B). This creates a slightly shorter progression but keeps the same elimination logic.

• Relay events (men, women, mixed) use team-based elimination rounds:

• Teams of four skaters per nation
• Skaters rotate by pushing teammates into the race
• Format:

1. Semifinals
2. Finals
   • A final → Medal positions
   • B final → Placement rankings

The top two teams from each semifinal qualify for the A final.

Favorites in Short-Track Speed Skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Betting Options, and Where to Watch

Short-track is dominated by a few powerhouse nations with deep talent pools and Olympic pedigree.

• South Korea (top favorite): Traditionally, the most successful nation in Olympic short track.
• China: Always competitive in sprint distances (500 m & 1,000 m).
• Canada: One of the strongest relay nations.
• Netherlands: Growing short-track powerhouse.
• Italy: Home-ice advantage in Milan.

Short-track offers several betting options:

• Outright winner: Pick the skater or country to win a specific event.
• Podium finish: Bet on athletes or teams to finish top-3.
• Nation medal count: Predict which country wins the most medals in short track.
• Head-to-head matchups: Compare two skaters’ finishing positions in the same race.
• Relay winner: Popular market due to strong national team patterns.

Most international sportsbooks on the list of online bookies cover Olympic winter sports, including major European bookmakers, crypto-friendly sportsbooks, winter sports specialist betting platforms, and Olympic multi-sport betting sites; e.g., 1xBet, 22bet, Betway, etc. Look for platforms that offer live betting, fast result settlement, Olympic discipline markets, and mobile-friendly apps

Note: Many betting sites open full Olympic markets 2–3 weeks before the competition starts.

Broadcast rights depend on region, but here are the main global options:

Worldwide streaming

IOC official platforms

• Olympic digital partners stream selected events globally
• Available through official Olympic broadcast portals

Europe

• Eurosport / Discovery+
• Main Olympic broadcaster across most European countries
• Offers full short-track coverage, including heats and finals

United States

• NBC Sports
• Peacock streaming platform
• Full live sessions and replays

Canada

• CBC Sports / CBC Gem
• Free online streams and TV broadcasts

United Kingdom

• BBC Sport
• Discovery+ for extended live coverage

Most official broadcasters offer multi-camera angles, replay access, live timing graphics, and medal ceremony coverage.

Pros and Cons of Favorites in Short-Track Speed Skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics