The women's 500 metres

speed skating Speed skating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in travelling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skatin ...

event was part of the

speed skating at the 1960 Winter Olympics At the 1960 Winter Olympics, eight speed skating events were contested in Squaw Valley, California. For the first time in Olympic history, women participated in the Olympic speed skating events after the USOC's proposal to include the women's e ...

programme. It was the first appearance of a women's event in Olympic speed skating. The competition was held on the

Squaw Valley Olympic Skating Rink The Squaw Valley Olympic Skating Rink was a temporary venue constructed for the 1960 Winter Olympics in Olympic Valley, California (which was known at that time as "Squaw Valley"). Located outdoors near the Blyth Arena Blyth Arena was an ice sk ...

and for the first time at the Olympics on artificially frozen ice. It was held on Saturday, February 20, 1960. Twenty-three speed skaters from ten nations competed.

Medalists

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records (in seconds) prior to the 1960 Winter Olympics. ''(*)'' The record was set in a high altitude venue (more than 1000 metres above sea level) and on naturally frozen ice. Helga Haase set the first Olympic record with 45.9 seconds.

Results

Helga Haase became the first ever female Olympic champion in speed skating.

References

External links

Official Olympic Report
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Speed Skating At The 1960 Winter Olympics - Women's 500 Metres Women's speed skating at the 1960 Winter Olympics Olymp Skat