▁European ▁Championships . ▁However , ▁North ▁American ▁races ▁were ▁usually ▁conducted ▁pack - style , ▁similar ▁to ▁the ▁mar athon ▁races ▁in ▁the ▁Netherlands , ▁but ▁the ▁Olympic ▁races ▁were ▁to ▁be ▁held ▁over ▁the ▁four ▁IS U - appro ved ▁distances . ▁The ▁IS U ▁approved ▁the ▁suggestion ▁that ▁the ▁speed ▁sk ating ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 3 2 ▁Winter ▁Olympics ▁should ▁be ▁held ▁as ▁pack - style ▁races , ▁and ▁Americans ▁won ▁all ▁four ▁gold ▁med als . ▁Canada ▁won ▁five ▁med als , ▁all ▁silver ▁and ▁bronze , ▁while ▁def ending ▁World ▁Champion ▁Cl as ▁Th un berg ▁stayed ▁at ▁home , ▁protest ing ▁against ▁this ▁form ▁of ▁racing . ▁At ▁the ▁World ▁Championships ▁held ▁immediately ▁after ▁the ▁games , ▁without ▁the ▁American ▁champions , ▁Norwegian ▁rac ers ▁won ▁all ▁four ▁distances ▁and ▁occupied ▁the ▁three ▁top ▁sp ots ▁in ▁the ▁all round ▁stand ings . ▁ ▁Norweg ians , ▁Sw edes , ▁Fin ns , ▁and ▁Japanese ▁sk ating ▁leaders ▁protest ed ▁to ▁the ▁US OC , ▁condem ning ▁the ▁manner ▁of ▁competition ▁and ▁express ing ▁the ▁wish ▁that ▁mass - start ▁races ▁were ▁never ▁to ▁be ▁held ▁again ▁at ▁the ▁Olympics . ▁However , ▁the ▁IS U ▁adopted ▁the ▁short ▁track ▁speed ▁sk ating ▁branch , ▁with ▁mass - start ▁races ▁on ▁shorter ▁tracks , ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 7 , ▁arranged ▁international ▁compet itions ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 6 , ▁and ▁brought ▁them ▁back ▁to ▁the ▁Olympics ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 2 .