Quick Facts Men's 500 metres speed skating at the V Olympic Winter Games, Venue ...

Men's 500 metres speed skating at the V Olympic Winter Games
Pictogram for speed skating
Venue	St. Moritz Olympic Ice Rink
Date	31 January 1948
Competitors	42 from 15 nations
Winning time	43.1 OR
Medalists
Finn Helgesen  Norway Ken Bartholomew  United States Thomas Byberg  Norway Robert Fitzgerald  United States
← 1936 1952 →

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The 500 metres speed skating event was part of the speed skating at the 1948 Winter Olympics programme. The competition was held on Saturday, 31 January 1948. Forty-two speed skaters from 15 nations competed.^[1]

These were the standing world and Olympic records (in seconds) prior to the 1948 Winter Olympics.

More information World Record, Olympic Record ...

World Record	41.8(*)	Hans Engnestangen	Davos (SUI)	5 February 1938
Olympic Record	43.4	Clas Thunberg	St. Moritz (SUI)	13 February 1928
	43.4	Bernt Evensen	St. Moritz (SUI)	13 February 1928
	43.4(**)	Jack Shea	Lake Placid (USA)	4 February 1932
	43.4	Ivar Ballangrud	Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER)	11 February 1936

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(*) The record was set in a high altitude venue (more than 1000 metres above sea level) and on naturally frozen ice.

(**) This time was set in pack-style format, having all competitors skate at the same time.

Five speed skaters were faster than the standing Olympic record. Finn Helgesen set a time of 43.1 seconds.