The Utah Olympic Oval will determine which athletes will don the Stars & Stripes in next year's various short-track speedskating events at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
U.S. Speedskating announced Tuesday that the 2017 U.S. short-track speedskating Olympic team trials will be held Dec. 15 to 17 at the Oval in Kearns. The U.S. will send a maximum of 12 athletes as part of the short-track Olympic squad — six men and women pending the approval of the United States Olympic Committee. Short-track athletes are scheduled to compete in the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters.
"The Utah Olympic Oval is a world-class facility that has hosted many successful international competitions, and we are very excited to bring back the U.S. Olympic Trials to a venue that has such rich history within the Olympic Winter Games," Ted Morris, executive director for U.S. Speedskating, said in a release. "The venue is the perfect setting for a phenomenal trials and 2018 U.S. Olympic Team selection. We know that the great Olympic sports fans in Utah will come out and support all of our athletes fighting for a spot on the U.S. team that will compete in Pyeongchang."
The Oval, constructed for the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, has remained a constant staple of various international competitions the past two decades. More than 100 world records have been set on the ice, and it hosted the most recent U.S. Olympic team trials in 2014 for long-track and short-track speedskating ahead of the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.
Steve Griffin / The Salt Lake Tribune John-Henry Krueger leads to pack around the corner during the 1,000 short-track finals event at the final day of the 2017 U.S. Speedskating Championships at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah Sunday January 8, 2017. John-Henry Krueger won the event.
John-Henry Krueger, of the United States, celebrates after winning a semifinal in the men's 500 meters at the World Cup short track speedskating event Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014, in Kearns, Utah. Krueger won the final. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
John-Henry Krueger, left, of the United States, and Sjinkie Knegt, of the Netherlands, race in a men's 500-meter semifinal at the World Cup short track speedskating event Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014, in Kearns, Utah. Krueger won the final. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
John-Henry Krueger competes in the men's 1,000 meters time trial during the U.S. Olympic speedskating trials on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, in Kearns, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Kearns - U.S. short track skater Katherine Reutter ,front, practices alongside teammate Allison Baver during a team practice at the Kearns Olympic Oval in preperation for the upcoming Winter Olympics.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune John-Henley Krueger celebrates his 3rd place finish in the World Cup 1500 M finals, at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Saturday, November 12, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune John-Henley Krueger celebrates his 3rd place finish in the World Cup 1500 M finals, at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Saturday, November 12, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune John-Henley Krueger celebrates his 3rd place finish in the World Cup 1500 M finals, at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Saturday, November 12, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Third place finisher John-Henley Krueger USA, stands with Samuel Girard, Canada, first place, and Shaolin Sandor Liu, Hungry, third place, in the World Cup 1500 M finals, at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Saturday, November 12, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Jessica Kooreman, USA, recovers after crashing into the wall in the Ladies World Cup1500 M finals, at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Saturday, November 12, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Jessica Kooreman, USA, skates in the in the Ladies World Cup1500 M finals, at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Saturday, November 12, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Jessica Kooreman, USA, skates in the in the Ladies World Cup1500 M finals, at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Saturday, November 12, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Jessica Kooreman, USA, reacts after crashing into the wall in the Ladies World Cup1500 M finals, at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Saturday, November 12, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune John-Henley Krueger, USA (13) skates to a 3rd place finish in the World Cup 1500 M finals, at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Saturday, November 12, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Katherine Reutter USA (122) skates behind Suzanne Shulting, Nederlands, in the Ladies World Cup 1000 M finals, at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Saturday, November 12, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Katherine Reutter USA (122) slides out of position in the Ladies World Cup 1000 M finals, at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Saturday, November 12, 2016.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Katherine Reutter of the USA races during the Women's 1500m final at the World Cup Short Track race at the Utah Olympic Oval, Sunday, November 13, 2016. Reutter would later stumble and narrowly avoid a fall, but finished last.
Steve Griffin / The Salt Lake Tribune John-Henry Krueger leads to pack around the corner during the 1,000 short-track finals event at the final day of the 2017 U.S. Speedskating Championships at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah Sunday January 8, 2017. John-Henry Krueger won the event.
Steve Griffin / The Salt Lake Tribune John-Henry Krueger celebrates his victory in the 1,000 short-track finals event at the final day of the 2017 U.S. Speedskating Championships at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah Sunday January 8, 2017. John-Henry Krueger won the event.
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