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Experts have highlighted that the unusually low air pressure in Milan has created optimal conditions for breaking speed records on the ice.
WASHINGTON — While the weather wreaked havoc outside the speedskating oval in Milan, it ironically played a role in making history indoors.
During Thursday’s events, analysts remarked on the perfect conditions for achieving high speeds, attributing this to the lowest air pressure recorded at the venue during the Games.
“Earlier, we mentioned that today’s conditions in Milan are perfect for fast skating,” a commentator observed. “This is the lowest air pressure we’ve experienced here this year, and it significantly impacts the dynamics inside the oval.”
“It might seem strange if you’re listening at home to hear how outside weather affects the rink indoors, but this is the lowest air pressure we’ve encountered in Milan, and it’s advantageous for skating,” the commentator continued. “Bad weather outside often translates to faster times inside. We might witness some impressive speeds today.”
That prediction proved accurate in the men’s 1,500 meters.
Joep Wennemars of the Netherlands set an Olympic record in the event, only for China’s Zhongyan Ning to break it minutes later by more than a second. Ning won gold with a time of 1:41.98, beating the Olympic mark Wennemars had just set.
The science behind the advantage is simple. Speed skaters move so fast that air resistance becomes a major factor.
“It’s a little counterintuitive because we usually think altitude slows people down, but in speed skating, it’s the other way around,” Robert Chapman, an exercise physiologist at Indiana University, told the American Institute of Physics.
Chapman explained that denser air creates more resistance against fast-moving skaters, forcing them to work harder to reach and maintain top speeds, while thinner air makes it easier to go fast.