A listing of televised Olympic events in which Champaign speedskaters Katherine Reutter and Jonathan Kuck are entered:

Saturday

NBC

11 p.m.-midnight: Women's Short Track - 3000m Relay Semifinals; 500m

Wednesday

11:05 p.m.-12:30 a.m.: Women's Short Track - 500m Competition, Semifinal and Gold Medal Final

Feb. 20

11 p.m.-midnight: Women's Short Track - 1500m Competition, Semifinal and Gold Medal Final

Feb. 23

NBC

2 p.m.-4 p.m.: Men's Speed Skating - 10,000m Gold Medal Final (LIVE)

Feb. 24

NBC

11:05 p.m.-12:30 a.m.: Women's Short Track - 3000m Relay Gold Medal Final; 1000m Competition

Feb. 26

NBC

11:05 p.m.-12:30 a.m." Women's Short Track - 1000m Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Gold Medal Final

MSNBC

2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: Men's Speed Skating - Team Pursuit Semifinals (LIVE)

Feb. 27

NBC

Noon-5 p.m.: Men's Speed Skating - Team Pursuit Gold Medal Finals (LIVE)

Source: NBC

Andy Gabel, a four-time Olympic speedskater from 1988-98 and current member of the U.S. Speedskating Board of Directors, will serve as a color commentator on NBC's coverage of short-track speedskating at the Vancouver Olympics. The 1994 Olympic silver medalist agreed to provide News-Gazette readers with tips on what to watch for while viewing the Games as well as his thoughts on Champaign's two speedskating Olympians: Katherine Reutter and Jonathan Kuck.

Short track speedskating

– Based on a process of elimination like track and field or swimming, where a series of heats are conducted to reach the final event.

– Athletes race each other, where time is not a factor, except for world records.

– The final event is where medals are won

– 500 meters: 4.5 laps; 1,000 meters: 9 laps; 1,500 meters: 13.5 laps; 3,000-meter relay: 27 laps; 5,000-meter relay: 45 laps.

– 500 and 1,000 meters: four athletes per race; normally top two finishers in each race advance to the next round

– 1,500 meters: six athletes per race, normally top two or three skaters advance to the next round.

– Look for lots of passing, both on the inside and the outside of the track.

– Athletes can be disqualified should they interfere with another skater. This is subjective, of course, but part of the thrill of the sport.

– Relay teams consist of four athletes, and each athlete takes several turns on the track.

Long track speedskating

– Races are 500 meters, 1,000 meters, 1,500 meters, 3,000 meters (ladies), 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters (men).

– Athletes race two at a time and race against the clock, not each other. Fastest time wins.

– Athletes switch tracks on the back stretch to ensure each athlete skates the same distance. Not switching tracks will cause a disqualification.

– Pursuit race is six laps for ladies, eight laps for men. Each team has three skaters, with the final skater in each team accounting for the team's final time. Teams start on opposite sides of the track.

Katherine Reutter

– Her best races are the 1,000 and 1,500 meters. Very good in the 500 meters as well, but stronger in the longer races.

– Likes to skate from the front and control the races. This is very difficult to do, and you need to be very strong to do this. She is strong enough to do so, which gives her an edge.

– Very good technical skater.

– Doesn't like being in the back of the pack, and tends to scramble when back there toward the end of a race. Her best results are when she is up front controlling the race.

– Outstanding skater, fights very hard, does not like to lose, and absolutely can medal in the 1,000 and 1,500 meters

– She's is the finisher in the relay event, which usually goes to the strongest skater on the team. If the team is close at the end, she is able to make tight passes, which will give the U.S. a good chance.

Jonathan Kuck

– Skating in team pursuit and 10,000 meters

– In team pursuit, it's important to be able to skate as a team, in stride, to be successful.

– Jonathan has a very nice skating style which allows for him to be a good pursuit skater.

– He's very strong with good endurance. The pursuit is a very fast race and you need to be strong throughout. Jonathan is strong enough to handle this.