# Speed skating at the 1980 Winter Olympics

Speed skating at the 1980 Winter Olympics, was held from 9 February to 18 February. Nine events were contested at James B. Sheffield Olympic Skating Rink.

## Medal summary
### Medal table

| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | United States (USA) | 5 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 2 | Norway (NOR) | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| 3 | Netherlands (NED) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | East Germany (GDR) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Soviet Union (URS) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 6 | Canada (CAN) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals (6 entries) | Totals (6 entries) | 9 | 9 | 10 | 28 |
The United States led the medal table with five gold medals, thanks to Eric Heiden's sweep of the men's events, which made him the first, and as of 2023, only, athlete to win five gold medals at a Winter Games.
Heiden led the individual medal table, while the most successful woman was Russian Nataliya Petrusyova, who won one gold and one bronze medal. American Leah Poulos-Mueller won two silver medals.

### Men's events

| Event | Gold | Gold | Silver | Silver | Bronze | Bronze |
| 500 metres details | Eric Heiden United States | 38.03 (OR) | Yevgeny Kulikov Soviet Union | 38.37 | Lieuwe de Boer Netherlands | 38.48 |
| 1000 metres details | Eric Heiden United States | 1:15.18 (OR) | Gaétan Boucher Canada | 1:16.68 | Vladimir Lobanov Soviet Union Frode Rønning Norway | 1:16.91 |
| 1500 metres details | Eric Heiden United States | 1:55.44 (OR) | Kay Stenshjemmet Norway | 1:56.81 | Terje Andersen Norway | 1:56.92 |
| 5000 metres details | Eric Heiden United States | 7:02.29 (OR) | Kay Stenshjemmet Norway | 7:03.28 | Tom Erik Oxholm Norway | 7:05.59 |
| 10,000 metres details | Eric Heiden United States | 14:28.13 WR | Piet Kleine Netherlands | 14:36.03 | Tom Erik Oxholm Norway | 14:36.60 |

### Women's events

| Event | Gold | Gold | Silver | Silver | Bronze | Bronze |
| 500 metres details | Karin Enke East Germany | 41.78 (OR) | Leah Poulos-Mueller United States | 42.26 | Natalya Petrusyova Soviet Union | 42.42 |
| 1000 metres details | Natalya Petrusyova Soviet Union | 1:24.10 (OR) | Leah Poulos-Mueller United States | 1:25.41 | Sylvia Albrecht East Germany | 1:26.46 |
| 1500 metres details | Annie Borckink Netherlands | 2:10.95 (OR) | Ria Visser Netherlands | 2:12.35 | Sabine Becker East Germany | 2:12.38 |
| 3000 metres details | Bjørg Eva Jensen Norway | 4:32.13 (OR) | Sabine Becker East Germany | 4:32.79 | Beth Heiden United States | 4:33.77 |

## Records

All previous Olympic records were broken in Lake Placid, along with one world record, from Eric Heiden in the final event, the men's 10000 metres.
| Event | Date | Team | Time | OR | WR |
| Men's 500 metres | 15 February | Eric Heiden (USA) | 38.03 | OR | |
| Men's 1000 metres | 19 February | Eric Heiden (USA) | 1:15.18 | OR | |
| Men's 1500 metres | 21 February | Eric Heiden (USA) | 1:55.44 | OR | |
| Men's 5000 metres | 16 February | Eric Heiden (USA) | 7:02.29 | OR | |
| Men's 10000 metres | 23 February | Eric Heiden (USA) | 14:28.13 | OR | WR |
| Women's 500 metres | 15 February | Karin Enke (GDR) | 41.78 | OR | |
| Women's 1000 metres | 17 February | Nataliya Petrusyova (URS) | 1:24.10 | OR | |
| Women's 1500 metres | 14 February | Annie Borckink (NED) | 2:10.95 | OR | |
| Women's 3000 metres | 20 February | Bjørg Eva Jensen (NOR) | 4:32.13 | OR | |

## Participating NOCs

Nineteen nations competed in the speed skating events at Lake Placid. China and Romania made their debuts in the sport.
* Australia (2)
* Canada (7)
* China (13)
* Finland (3)
* France (1)
* West Germany (4)
* Great Britain (6)
* East Germany (9)
* Italy (3)
* Japan (8)
* South Korea (5)
* Mongolia (2)
* Netherlands (9)
* Norway (11)
* Poland (2)
* Romania (3)
* Switzerland (1)
* Soviet Union (16)
* United States (11)