Speed skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Men's 1500 metres Speed skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Men's 1500 metres The men's 1500 m speed skating competition for the 2002 Winter Olympics was held in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. In reverse order of the 5000 metres, Jochem Uytdehaage first broke the world record, only to see it bettered by Derek Parra, who won the third US skating gold of the Games. He was the first Mexican-American to medal in a winter sport. Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows. The following new world and Olympic records were set during this competition.
Winter Olympic Games in the same year. Alpine skiing made its Olympic debut, but skiing teachers were barred from entering because they were considered to be professionals. Because of this decision the Swiss and Austrian skiers refused to compete at the Games. World War II interrupted the holding of the Winter Olympics. The 1940 Games had been awarded to Sapporo, Japan, but the decision was rescinded in 1938 because of the Japanese invasion of China. The Games were then to be held at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, but the 1940 Games were cancelled following the German invasion of Poland in 1939. Due to the ongoing