You would think there isn’t much you can do to revolutionize a sport that is going in a circle but apparently, we found it? The team pursuit event involves 3 skaters from each country trying to get across the finish line as quickly as possible.
Traditionally, teams will rotate who is in the front. When the person leading, taking the brunt of the wind, gets tired they fall to the back of the group. The US finished last in 2018 and looked towards one of the most inspiring forces of nature to figure out how to not suck as much.
THE MIGHTY DUCKS. Well, bird flight patterns that inspired Coach Gordon Bombay as well.
The US speed skating think tank realized the amount of time teams take transitioning the leader is incredibly inefficient for wind dynamics and maybe there should be just 1 leader the entire race. And boy howdy has it been working well. They dropped 4 seconds off their best time ever and have the world record.
What helps make this successful is the two dudes behind the leader can physically push/support the guy in front. It’s not the crazy pushes you see in short track but enough for the leader to be able to maintain a pace they wouldn’t ever be able to do on their own. Joey Mantia and his tree-trunk thunder thighs are usually the lead for Team USA and I have no clue how anyone is capable of keeping up with him…or not scared/smitten if he was right behind you pushing you to go faster.
So there you have it, some speed skating KNOWLEDGE you can share with others, and be sure to tune in on February 15 around 2:30am for their next round. Because sleep doesn’t matter during the Olympics.
Royer's Olympic Blog 