Episode

Innovations in Olympic Speed Skating: When to Reveal a Novel Approach

Podcast
Cold Call
Published
Feb 17, 2026
Duration seconds
1347
Processing state
not_requested
Canonical source
https://hbr.org/podcast/2026/02/innovations-in-olympic-speed-skating-when-to-reveal-a-novel-idea
Audio
https://audio.hbr.org/cold-call/20260217091954-InnovationsinOlympicSpeedSkating_WhentoRevealaNovelIdea.mp3
JSON
/v1/public/podcasts/cold-call-634317/episodes/innovations-in-olympic-speed-skating-when-to-reveal-a-novel-approach
Markdown
/podcast/cold-call-634317/innovations-in-olympic-speed-skating-when-to-reveal-a-novel-approach.md

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Summary

The U.S. Men’s Olympic speed skating team devised a new approach to the team pursuit event following their disappointing performance in the 2018 Winter Olympics. The team saw promising initial results from their innovations, but they faced a decision about whether to reveal their new techniques. The U.S. Team’s strategy was easily imitated if competitors witnessed it in a race, but it was a risk not to test it in competition before the Olympics. And, were here possible upsides to imitation if it improved the entire sport? Should they share their techniques, and if so, when? Harvard Business School Assistant Professor Rebecca Karp joins Brian Kenny to discuss the case, “A Winning Strategy: Innovation in Olympic Speed Skating.”