KEARNS, Utah – US Speedskating has selected the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the site for the 2018 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Long Track Speedskating. The team trials will take place on January 2-7, 2018, and will determine the U.S. Olympic Long Track Speedskating Team.

"We are thrilled to have the city of Milwaukee and the Pettit National Ice Center host the 2018 U.S. Olympic Trials – Long Track Speedskating,” said Ted Morris, Executive Director for US Speedskating. “The state of Wisconsin has a rich history in speed skating and we’re excited about adding to that legacy. A total of 34 Olympic medals have been won by speed skaters born and raised in Wisconsin. Every U.S. Olympic Team over the last four decades has included athletes that called the Pettit National Ice Center their home base.”

Opened on December 31, 1992, the Pettit National Ice Center has been proud to be an Official U.S. Olympic Training Site for speed skating in the country. At the same time, the Center is an extraordinary community asset, hosting more than 425,000 visitors annually for ice skating, figure skating, hockey, learn to skate, its 445-meter run/walk track, along with other healthy activities.

“We are delighted that our top speed skaters will compete at the Trials here to pursue their dreams for gold at the Olympic Winter Games,” said Randy Dean, Executive Director of the Pettit Center. “The timing of the Olympic Trials is coincidental with the 25th Anniversary of the Center. Athletes will strive for gold skating on the oval, while we celebrate silver for the Pettit Center.”

The 2018 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Long Track Speedskating will be used to determine members of the U.S. Olympic Team. Up to 20 athletes may be named to the Olympic Team – 10 men and 10 ladies – across 12 individual distances and two team events. All nominations to the U.S. Olympic Team are subject to approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

The Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 will be held in South Korea, from February 9-25, 2018. Both Long and Short Track will be held in the Gangneung coastal cluster with all Olympic competitions for Long Track Speedskating to be held at the Gangneung Oval, host of the 2017 World Single Distance Championships that saw Team USA win the second-most medals of any country.

Tickets sales and event information for the 2018 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will be announced at a later time.