Long track speedskating — sometimes referred to simply as “long track” or just “speedskating” — was a part of the original Winter Olympics back in 1924, when only men participated, and is quite different from short track. Here's what to know about the competition at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics: How it works In most long track events, two skaters compete against each other on a 400-meter oval, racing counterclockwise in an attempt to record the fastest time. There are two lanes, and the athletes alternate which portion of the course they are in during each lap.