Speed skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics records and five Olympic records were set in Lillehammer. Twenty-one nations competed in the speed skating events at Lillehammer. Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine made their Olympic speed skating debuts. Speed skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics Speed skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics, was held from 13 February to 25 February. Ten events were contested at Hamar Olympic Hall. Norway led the medal table in speed skating on home ice, led by Johann Olav Koss, who won three gold medals. Bonnie Blair was the most successful woman, with a pair of gold medals. Germany won the most total medals,
Winter Olympic Games consecutive ice hockey gold medal. In 1980 the Winter Olympics returned to Lake Placid, which had hosted the 1932 Games. The first boycott of a Winter Olympics took place at these Games, when Taiwan refused to participate after an edict by the IOC mandated that they change their name and national anthem. This was an attempt by the IOC to accommodate China, who wished to compete using the same name and anthem as those used by Taiwan. As a result, China participated for the first time since 1952. American speed-skater Eric Heiden set either an Olympic or World record in