Speed skating at the 1980 Winter Olympics


at the 1980 Winter Olympics, was held from 9 February to 18 February. Nine events were contested at James B. Sheffield Olympic Skating Rink.

Medal summary

Medal table

The United States led the medal table with five gold medals, thanks to Eric Heiden's sweep of the men's events, which made him the first, and as of 2018, only, athlete to win five gold medals at a Winter Games.
Heiden led the individual medal table, while the most successful woman was Nataliya Petrusyova of the Soviet Union, who won one gold and one bronze medal. Leah Poulos-Mueller of the US won two silver medals.

Men's events

Women's events

Records

All previous Olympic records were broken in Lake Placid, along with one world record, from Eric Heiden in the final event, the men's 10000 metres.
EventDateTeamTimeORWR
Men's 500 metres15 February38.03OR
Men's 1000 metres19 February1:15.18OR
Men's 1500 metres21 February1:55.44OR
Men's 5000 metres16 February7:02.29OR
Men's 10000 metres23 February14:28.13ORWR
Women's 500 metres15 February41.78OR
Women's 1000 metres17 February1:24.10OR
Women's 1500 metres14 February2:10.95OR
Women's 3000 metres20 February4:32.13OR

Participating NOCs

Twenty nations competed in the speed skating events at Lake Placid. China and Romania made their debuts in the sport.
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