In one month’s time, the James C. Sheffield Olympic Skating Rink will be the site of the Lake Placid 2022 FISU World University Championship Speed Skating. From 2-5 March 2022, the oval that will play host to speed skating events at the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games next January, will welcome over 75 athletes from upwards of 15 countries for four days of speed skating competition. 13 titles are up for grabs in the following disciplines:

• Women’s 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, Team Pursuit, Mass Start
• Men’s 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 5000m, Team Pursuit, Mass Start
• Mixed Team Relay

This will be the 6th edition of the FISU World University Championship Speed Skating. Zakopane, Poland hosted the first in 2012 and featured 59 athletesLake Placid, New York, USA from 11 countries. The 5th, and most recent, edition was held in March of 2020 in Amsterdam, Netherlands and was three days into competition when the fourth and final day had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speed skating has also appeared 11 times at FISU World University Games, most recently in 2017 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and will again at Lake Placid in 2023.

The James C. Sheffield Olympic Skating Rink has undergone substantial upgrades over the last year in preparation for both the 2022 FISU Championship Speed Skating and the Lake Placid 2023 FISU Games. This includes an updated refrigeration system and improved amenities for athletes. The oval hosted speed skating at the 1972 Winter Universiade and was originally built for the 1932 Olympic Winter Games. It again hosted the Olympics in 1980 where American Eric Heiden claimed five gold medals.

This unique and historic outdoor venue provides a great setting for speed skaters and spectators descending on Lake Placid one month from now for four outstanding days of competition.

WRITTEN BY DOUG MCLEAN