Skating has been present over a millenium ago in Scandinavia, Northern Europe and Netherlands when people used bones to skate through icy places like frozen lakes.

   In the 16th century, people started to skate for fun and sport, and in 1592, a Scotsman made an iron blade to replace the bone ones. This spread skating as a sport around Europe. By 1642, the first official Speed skating club of Edinburg was born and in 1765, the first official speed skating race on the fens in England took place. It was organized by the National Ice Skating Association.

   In 1851, North America discovered a love for the sport and developped the all-steel blade and in 1889, the Netherlands organized the first world championship. Three years later, the International Skating Union (ISU) was developped. By the 20th century, Speed skating became a major sport.

  In the Netherlands, people began touring waterways in the 11 cities of Friesland, a challenge that eventually led to the Elfstedentocht. In 1909, the first organized Elfstedentocht began. It is a 200km tour that travels through eleven different cities and takes place at irregular intervals, whenever the temperature was right.

   In the 1960 Winter Olympics, artificial ices and more aerodynamic suits were developed, as well as the first Winter Olympic competition for women. Finally, in 1992, short track was accepted as an Olympic sport. Though it is newer, it grows faster because it can be used in a hockey rink rather than an oval.