What is the 5,000-meter relay in ice skating?

　　Among the many exciting ice skating events, the 5000m relay is always in the spotlight, so what exactly does it belong to? This question often triggers discussion among sports enthusiasts.

The 5,000-meter relay in ice skating is a short track speed skating event。 Short track speed skating is a fast-paced and exciting ice sport that was included in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. The 5,000-meter relay is a key event in short track speed skating that tests teamwork and competition.

　　In this event, each team is usually made up of several competitors who compete fiercely on short circumferences on ice tracks. During the competition, the players alternated to complete the relay, and each baton handover was full of tension and challenge. For example, in the men's 5000m relay final of the 2024-2025 Short Track Speed Skating World Tour Beijing Station, the Chinese team composed of Liu Shaolin, Liu Shaoang, Li Wenlong, and Sun Long defeated strong teams such as South Korea, the Netherlands, and Canada with excellent teamwork and stable performance, and finally won the championship.

　　In the 2025 Turin Winter Games short track speed skating men's 5000m relay Group A final, the Chinese team composed of Liu Guanyi, Song Guixu, Li Kun and Zhang Tianyi won the championship with a time of 6:57.044, and the Japanese team and Kazakhstan team won the second and third places respectively. This competition fully demonstrated the strength and fighting spirit of each team in the 5000-meter relay event.

　　The 5,000-meter relay not only tests the speed, skill and endurance of the athletes, but also the tacit cooperation of the whole team. Each team member has to give their all during their own skating phase to create better conditions for their teammates to hand over the baton. When the baton is handed over, timing is crucial, and a single mistake can affect the performance of the entire team. Because of this, the 5,000-meter relay event is often full of suspense and surprises, and has become a major attraction in ice skating competitions. It allowed the audience to see the strength of the team and the unique charm of short track speed skating.