Speed skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics Speed skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics Speed skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics was held from 9 February to 18 February. Nine events were contested at Zetra Ice Rink. East Germany topped the medal table with four gold medals, and eleven total, including a complete sweep of gold and silver medals in the four women's events. This was only the second Games in which the United States did not win a speed skating medal, and as of 2018, the only time since 1960 the Netherlands did not win a medal in the sport. Japan's Yoshihiro Kitazawa won his country's
Ireland at the 2012 Summer Olympics had only a single competitor in the sprint canoeing, track cycling, equestrian dressage, judo, rowing and shooting events. This was Ireland's most successful Olympics, winning a total of 6 medals (1 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze) in three sports: boxing, athletics and equestrian show jumping. Boxer Katie Taylor, who was Ireland's flag bearer at the opening ceremony, won Ireland's first Olympic gold medal in 16 years. Light flyweight boxer Paddy Barnes defended his bronze medal from Beijing, becoming the second Irish athlete in 80 years to win medals at two consecutive Olympics. For the first time since 1980, Ireland