Since the late 19th century, speed skating championships were always decided by racing multiple distances. Four different distances for the alround championships, and two different distances, which have to be skated twice, for sprint championships. However, the speed skating events at the Olympic Games were always individual distances, no medals are awarded for a combined event.

Towards the end of the 20th century, skaters started to specialize, it became rare that a skater was able to dominate both the short and the long distances. Perhaps the last skater able to do so was Eric Heiden, who won all five distances at the 1980 Winter Olympics.

As a consequence of the specialization, the difference between the Olympic Games and the regular championships, and the popularity of the World Cup , the International Skating Union has organized World Single Distance Championships.

Distances

The skaters race in the following distances:

• 500 metres
• 1000 metres
• 1500 metres
• 3000 metres (women only)
• 5000 metres
• 10000 metres (men only)

The 500 metres is raced twice to counteract any benefits from starting in the inner lane - each skater will start once in the inner lane, and once in the outer lane. Winner is the skater with the least combined time.

Past events

Future events

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