DECONSTRUCTING THE GAMES SPEED SKATING: New threads, faster finishes In the real world, it’s said you dress for success. As Canwest News Service writer George Johnson explains, the same holds true on the ice, where several Canadians have medal potential at the oval: The sum of all parts 3.PLASTIC STRIPS In addition to their own strength and stamina,speed skaters Used on skating suits also rely on advances in technology — they make their suits to improve aerodynamics, and skates faster — to help them reach the podium. they cannot exceed 0.5 cm in height and 2.5 cm in width. THE ATHLETES 1.THE SUITS It’s all in the legs Designers use up to six different textiles/fabrics 4.THE SKATES in speed-skating suits,each Blades are attached to the boot Strong quadricep muscles Joint strength, specific to the aerodynamic by a hinge at the front.This — the large muscle in particular the properties of that body area. allows the blade to remain in group that includes the knees,is vital for The most important areas contact with the ice longer,as four prevailing muscles balancing,crouching in creating drag and air the ankle can now be extended on the front of the thigh and achieving resistance are the shoulders, toward the end of the stroke. — are a skater’s most optimum position chest,arms and the front It also allows for more natural important element. against the ice. of the head. movement,thereby distributing Lycra,silk,rubber — the energy of the leg more the list goes on and on — effectively and efficiently. are constantly being incorporated into suits in an attempt to give athletes an edge. MEDAL FAVOURITES Canadian content galore 500 METRES: In the men’s event,2008-09 1,000 METRES: Reigning Olympic champ, World Cup champion Fengton Yu of China World Cup titleholder and world record should vie with world-record holder holder Shani Davis of the U.S.is a clear Jeremy Wotherspoon of Canada,who’s favourite on the men’s side,although aiming to break his Olympic gold medal Canada’s Denny Morrison is expected to drought.Also in the mix for top spot on challenge.For the ladies,three Canadians the podium are American Joey Cheek — Christine Nesbitt,Kristina Groves and (the defending Olympic champion) and Cindy Klassen — are sure to be in the mix, Korea’s Lee-Kang Seok.Germany’s Jenny along with German ace Anni Friesinger. Wolf is favoured among the women. 2.CONSTRUCTION Canada’s suits are produced by the Japanese company Descente.They are individually created to fit each body type snugly and are tested in wind tunnels to determine maximum efficiency. The one-piece suits include Wotherspoon Yu Wolf Morrison Nesbitt Davis form-fitting hoods. 1,500 METRES: Davis is a solid bet to gain 3,000 METRES: The women-only distance retribution over the man who upset him in shapes up as a tussle between Klassen, Turin,Italy’s Enrico Fabris,with Davis’s U.S. Groves,Sablikova and German ace Daniela compatriot Trevor Marsicano also a threat. Anschutz-Thomas. For the women,Groves and Klassen, SMART FACTS THE VENUE along with Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic,are the ones to catch. 1.IN THE BEGINNING The Richmond Olympic Oval Finland’s Clas Thunberg (three gold,one silver,one The most distinctive feature of the $178-million building bronze) and Norwegian Roald Larsen (two silver, — which required a 400-metre refrigerated ice surface — three bronze) became the first speed-skating stars is its rippled “wood wave”roof,one of the largest clear spans of what has become known as the first Winter in North America.Built in a stylized native shape of a heron’s Olympics,officially called “International Winter wing,it used one million board feet of B.C.pine-beetle-killed Sports Week”at the time,in Chamoix in 1924. wood. 2.IT WAS WINTER,REALLY The building encompasses 47,526 square metres,large At the 1928 Games,unseasonably high temperatures enough to park four jetliners wingtip to wingtip on the Fabris Marsicano Sablikova Klassen Groves Anschutz- in St.Moritz caused the 10,000-metre races venue’s main floor. It will hold 8,000 spectators for speed Thomas to be abandoned after the fifth heat because of skating. 5,000 METRES: Canada’s Clara Hughes — 10,000 METRES: thawing ice. The Oval will also house the Olympic and Paralympic the inspirational gold medallist from Turin Defending gold medallist de Jong should — Sablikova and Klassen should be right 3.THE GREAT OUTDOORS anti-doping lab. duel with American Chad Hendrick,Bokko there at the finish.The men’s competition and Kramer for podium positions here. The last Olympic skating competition on natural ice is expected to be a tight battle between was held on the 2.6-km long Lake Misurina,venue Sven Kramer and Bob de Jong of the for speed skating at the 1956 Games at Cortina Netherlands and Havard Bokko of Norway. d’Ampezzo,Italy.Four years later,at Squaw Valley, races were held indoors at a 400-metre skating facility.Squaw Valley also introduced women’s speed skating to the Olympic agenda,and Russian star Lidia Skoblikova claimed the first two of her four career gold medals. 4.FOR THE RECORD Ten of the 12 Olympic records in the sport were set at Salt Lake City in 2002.The other two,both in team Hughes Kramer de Jong Hendrick Bokko Kramer pursuit,were set four years later in Turin.The U.S., Holland and Germany hold three Olympic records TEAM PURSUIT apiece,Canada two and Italy one. The traditional powers take hold here,with Germany,Canada and Russia (1-2-3 at Turin) vying for women’s supremacy,Canada,Italy,Japan and the Dutch in the men’s event. FOR MORE ON THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES GO TO VANCOUVERSUN.COM/2010 GRAPHICS:BY ROGER WATANABE AND MAGGIE WONG/VANCOUVER SUN SPEED SKATING SCHEDULE 1 » Day 2 » Day 5 » Day 9 » Day 13 » Day 16 Saturday, Feb. 13 Tuesday, Feb. 16 Saturday, Feb. 20 Wednesday, Feb. 24 Saturday, Feb. 27 Men’s 5,000 m Women’s 500 m Men’s 1,500 m Women’s 5,000 m Men’s and women’s *12-2:20 p.m. *1-4:05 p.m. *4:15-6 p.m. *1-2:35 p.m. team pursuit *12:30-2:25 p.m. » Day 3 » Day 6 » Day 10 » Day 15 Richmond Olympic Oval Sunday, Feb. 14 Wednesday, Feb. 17 Sunday, Feb. 21 Friday, Feb. 26 Women’s 3,000 m Men’s 1,000 m Women’s 1,500 m Men’s and women’s *Indicates medal events The venue has a seating capacity *1-2:50 p.m. *4-5:30 p.m. *3-4:35 p.m. team pursuit of 8,000. 12:30-2:20 p.m. » Day 4 » Day 7 » Day 12 Monday, Feb. 15 Thursday, Feb. 18 Tuesday, Feb. 23 Men’s 500 m Women’s 1,000 m Men’s 10,000 m 2010*3:30-6:50 p.m. *1-2:30 p.m. *11-1:45 p.m. 99.