What is the difference between speed skating and short track speed skating?

As its name suggests, short track  speed skating competitions take place on a shorter track than speed skating. In speed skating, male and female athletes race against the clock in a time trial format. There are no heats, semifinals or finals, just a single round in which competitors try to obtain the best time. In short track speed skating, on the other hand, the athletes compete against each other in a series of rounds in which the order of finish matters, since the fastest male and female athletes advance to the next round. Helmets are mandatory in short track speed skating because the risk of falls is much higher than in speed skating.

In short track speed skating, the sharp curves and the speed-to-distance ratio make it necessary to use stiffer footwear to help athletes control their trajectory, so the materials are less flexible than those used in speed skating.

Speed skating involves longer straightaways and wider curves, so the athletes' skates are more flexible. They also have a special system, called ‘clap blade’, with a hinge mechanism on the heel that allows the blade to remain in contact with the ice when the leg is raised, giving the impression that athletes are jumping as they skate (hence the name ‘clap skates’).