The Team Pursuit event in long-track speed skating has evolved significantly since its Olympic introduction in 2006, with recent strategies revolutionizing the way teams compete over eight laps of intense racing.
ISU Skating, the official site of the International Skating Union, provides detailed insights into the development and current dynamics of Team Pursuit.
Initially modeled after track cycling techniques, Team Pursuit tactics involved rotating the lead position among skaters to share the physical effort. This approach was notably used by the Italian team, who won the first Olympic gold in Torino in 2006. Skaters would take turns leading for about one to one-and-a-half laps before rotating to the back, maintaining close proximity to maximize drafting benefits and minimize aerodynamic drag.
However, since around 2020, the United States team, consisting of Casey Dawson, Emery Lehman and Ethan Cepuran, introduced a new technique where they maintain a fixed skating order throughout the eight laps, with a focus on pushing from the back rather than rotating the lead position. This innovation reduces time lost during lead changes and requires the team to skate in tight synchronization to efficiently utilize the aerodynamic draft. This method demands extensive joint training to perfect the timing and unity of the group.
The dominance of the Netherlands in the discipline is notable, with its men’s team winning 13 of 16 World titles since 2005 and the women’s team winning eight out of 16. Traditionally, their success was built on having the fastest individual skaters. However, since adopting the pushing strategy pioneered by Team USA from the 2020 season onward, the United States has won all five World Cup trophies in the Team Pursuit category by the 2021/22 season, challenging the supremacy of the Dutch teams.
Emery Lehman noted that although other teams may field individually talented skaters, their strength as a cohesive team sets them apart. While other teams have attempted to adopt the American pushing strategy, none have yet matched the execution and effectiveness demonstrated by the U.S. squad.
The Olympic Team Pursuit format involves teams of three skaters racing over a set number of laps—eight laps for men and six for women—starting on opposite sides of the track. The goal is to complete the distance in the fastest time, with the team’s time taken when the third skater crosses the finish line. The competition unfolds over two days, beginning with quarterfinal rounds followed by semifinals and finals. Advancement is time-based initially, then by knockout as the event progresses, culminating in a race for gold and a separate race for the bronze medal.
