Which speed skating discipline debuted at the 1992 Winter Olympics?

Short track speed skating debuted as an official medal discipline at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France.

The sport had already appeared as a demonstration event at the 1988 Calgary Games, but Albertville marked its first official Olympic competition. Its races take place on a much smaller oval than long-track speed skating, creating tight packs, sharp turns and frequent tactical battles.

The 1992 programme featured four events: the men’s 1,000 metres, men’s 5,000-metre relay, women’s 500 metres and women’s 3,000-metre relay. South Korea was especially successful, with Kim Ki-hoon winning two men’s gold medals.

A common mix-up is to treat short track as a completely new sport in 1992. The discipline had international championships before then; 1992 was specifically its official Olympic debut. Long-track speed skating, by contrast, had been part of the inaugural 1924 Winter Games.