For most speed skaters, the upcoming 2025-26 ISU World Cup season will make or break their chance to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics — but it’s not just about placing first.

Here’s how athletes can earn quota spots for their countries and which events will help determine Team USA's roster ahead of the qualification period.

To qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics, speed skaters both must earn qualifying points at four World Cup events which precede the Games and achieve the times set by the International Skating Union (ISU) for their respective distances.

Some countries with strong speed skating programs also hold Olympic Trials to determine the full Olympic roster. The United States will hold its Olympic Trials January 2-5, 2026, but athletes may qualify before then. If a U.S. athlete wins a medal in an individual event at the World Speed Skating Championships and places in the top 5 in two of the fall 2025 World Cup events in the same distance, they can secure their spot on the team before Trials.

The qualification period began on July 1, 2025, and will conclude on January 18, 2026.

The total number of competitors from any country may not exceed nine women and nine men. For the men’s and women’s 500m, 1000m and 1500m, a country may enter a maximum of three competitors in each event. A maximum of 36 total male athletes are permitted to participate in the men’s 500m, 1000m and 1500m races, and a maximum of 32 total female athletes are permitted to participate in the women’s 500m, 1000m and 1500m.

For the women’s 3000m and men’s 5000m, a country may enter a maximum of three competitors in each event. A maximum of 24 total skaters are permitted to participate in each event. 

For the women’s 5000m and men’s 10,000m, each country may enter a maximum of two competitors in each event. A maximum of 12 total skaters are permitted in each event.

For the men’s and women’s mass start, a country may enter a maximum of two competitors in each event. A maximum of 24 total skaters are permitted in each event.

For the team pursuit, a maximum of eight teams are permitted in each event.

Quota spots are determined based on athlete performances at four designated World Cup events according to the Special Olympic Qualification Classifications (SOQCs). At each World Cup event, athletes are ranked on two lists based on their results: the SOQCP (based on points) and the SOQCT (based on time).

SOQCP points are based on the overall rankings after the four World Cup events. Placement on the SOQCT list is based on each athlete’s fastest time recorded in the four stages. The fastest athletes who already have not secured a quota place through the points classification earn a quota place for their country based on their best time.

After the qualification period is over, quota spots are awarded to each country based on its athletes’ positions in the SOQC up to the maximum number of participants for each distance.

Skaters must achieve the following times for each event in order to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics: