(NEXSTAR) -- Speed skating, which began as a form of transportation in the 1600s over frozen rivers and lakes, became an Olympic event for men in 1924 and women in 1960. The upcoming Olympics in Italy will feature 14 events with equal representation for men and women. The James C. Sheffield Speed Skating Oval in Lake Placid is renowned for being the site where Eric Heiden won five gold medals at the 1980 Winter Olympics, demonstrating dominance in the sport across multiple distances, including 500, 1000, 1500, 5000 and 10,000 meters. The format of speed skating can be classified into various events, including mass start and team pursuit, with competitors aiming for prolonged strides while navigating the oval track. Apolo Anton Ohno is one of the most recognized figures in speed skating, having won eight Olympic medals, including two golds, making him a significant athlete of the early 2000s. Another notable athlete, Bonnie Blair, secured six Olympic medals, five of which were gold, solidifying her status in speed skating during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Recently, Erin Jackson made history by becoming the first black woman to win an individual gold medal in speed skating, achieving this in the 500-meter event at the Beijing Winter Olympics. As the Olympics approach, the audience is encouraged to appreciate the skill and history behind speed skating, especially as the events are set to take place in Italy. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published