Competitive speed skating has been an international event since the late 19th century. Today, speed skaters can participate in short or long track events at the Olympics.

“If you’ve ever skated before, you can see it’s actually very fun to do,” freshman Bailey Bisping said.

Bisping has been speed skating for 10 years, and she loves it. She has even developed her own nickname, “Budda Butt.” Her favorite part of the sport is doing the relays and going really fast.

She skates for Southern Speed Club, which is the largest skating club in the nation.

“I just love winning,” Bisping said. “I mean I know that people say it’s not all about winning, but it’s still a really good sensation when we do.”

Among her many trophies is a 1999 Gold National Medal for the primary two mixed relay.

Her uniform consists of a shirt and shorts sewn together, with a zipper down the middle. “It’s made of spandex, and it’s actually pretty uncomfortable, now that I think of it,” Bisping said.